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courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08ZAGREB198, SERBIA: EU-KOSOVO DIVIDE GROWS

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08ZAGREB198 2008-03-05 05:57 2011-08-30 01:44 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Zagreb
VZCZCXYZ2154
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVB #0198/01 0650557
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 050557Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8677
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFNSAA/AFSOUTH NAPLES IT
UNCLAS ZAGREB 000198 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
ZAGREB SENDING FOR BELGRADE 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KBTS KPAO SR MW KV
SUBJECT: SERBIA: EU-KOSOVO DIVIDE GROWS 
 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
1. (SBU) On the eve of the first parliamentary session of 2008, a 
resolution proposed by the Radicals that would allow Serbia to join 
the EU "only with Kosovo" has deepened the rift between Serbia's 
ruling parties. Officials from Prime Minister Kostunica's party have 
said they will support the resolution while pro-EU parties have 
denounced the resolution and method it was produced.  According to 
parliamentary contacts, President Tadic's party hopes to delay 
consideration of the text.  End Summary. 
 
The Proposal 
------------ 
 
2. (U) On March 4, the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) submitted a draft 
resolution for consideration by parliament, which convenes for the 
first time this year on March 5.  The Radicals' resolution calls on 
the EU not to deploy its "illegal" EULEX mission to Kosovo and calls 
for the "protection of Serbia's territorial integrity within 
international organizations."  The text also asks that EU member 
nations which have recognized Kosovo annul those decisions and warns 
the EU that Serbia will "only participate in European integration 
with its internationally recognized borders."  The document states 
that these positions are in accordance with the Serbian 
Constitution, which states that Kosovo is a part of Serbia. 
 
DSS Supports 
------------ 
 
3.  (U) On B92 radio on March 4, DSS Vice President Milos Aligrudic 
said that his party would support the Radicals' resolution because 
it is " in accordance with state institutions, the Serbian 
Constitution...state Kosovo policy and previous parliamentary 
resolutions" on Kosovo.  Also on March 4, Prime Minister Kostunica 
issued a statement calling on parties to "confirm a united state and 
national policy that Kosovo is Serbia" in parliament.  Congruent 
with the Radicals' resolution, Kostunica said that if Serbians 
"truly stand behind the state and national principle that Kosovo is 
Serbia, then we must all support the position that Serbia can become 
a member of the European Union with Kosovo and Metohija."  In his 
view, this position would "satisfy" both pro-EU parties and those 
"strongly insisting on the defense of Kosovo."  According to 
Kostunica, such parliamentary action would "preserve and confirm the 
policy that Serbia has led for years in the defense of its essential 
interests, and to clearly say that Serbia is joining the European 
Union only with her Kosovo." 
 
4.  (U) Socialist Party (SPS) leader Ivica Dacic told the press that 
his party would support the resolution, saying that the resolution 
did not prevent Serbia's EU integration but rather required the EU 
to "keep watch" on Serbia. 
 
DS, G17, LDP Oppose 
------------------- 
 
5.  (U) Oliver Dulic, speaker of the parliament and Democratic Party 
(DS) official warned that if the DSS joined the SRS to adopt the 
resolution it would "represent the forming of a new parliamentary 
majority."  DS parliamentary whip Nada Kolundzija said that her 
party "categorically" opposed the resolution.  She said it was 
"unacceptable and unthinkable" that Serbian foreign policy could be 
made by parties outside the government.  G17 Plus vice president 
Tomica Milosavljevic said that the resolution was made without 
consultation with parties within the government and would set an 
undesirable precedent for government activity.  Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP) opposed the content of the resolution most strongly. 
LDP Member of Parliament Ivan Andric called the resolution a 
"continuation of Kostunica's policies" and represented the "last 
moment for the DS to use its governmental majority" and oppose the 
DSS.  Andric reiterated the LDP assessment that the "only solution" 
for the current divisions in government was new elections. 
 
What's Next 
----------- 
 
6.  (SBU) Jovan Ratkovic, adviser to President Tadic (DS), told 
poloff on March 4 that he had not "officially confirmed" that the 
DSS would vote for the resolution, and they could not do so until an 
hour before the parliamentary session.  Dulic adviser Lidija 
Vasiljevic told poloff on March 4 that there was a "strong 
possibility" that Kostunica will try to form a new government if 
this resolution was not accepted. Ratkovic and Vasiljevic both said 
the DS would try to stall the process "using all possible means." 
If the resolution passes, Ratkovic said, the DS and G17 would 
consider it "non binding" and would then undertake legal measures to 
 
question the legality of the resolution. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
7.  (SBU) Although this resolution would be the latest in a series 
of parliamentary resolutions reaffirming Serbia's Kosovo policy, the 
fact that this comes at a time of clear divisions within the GOS 
about EU integration means it represents another test of will for 
the ruling parties.  Kostunica has elevated the importance of the 
resolution by effectively calling for national unity on his position 
that Serbia can only join the EU if united with Kosovo.  The G17 and 
DS (to a lesser extent) have publicly opposed qualifying Serbia's 
European integration or linking it with Kosovo.  If they are unable 
to prevent this resolution, binding or not, it will represent 
another obstacle to Serbia's European integration at the hands of 
Kostunica's hard-line Kosovo policy.  End Comment. 
 
MUNTER