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DE RUEHPS #0312/01 1721406
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O 201406Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY PRISTINA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8275
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 1035
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1491
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RHMFISS/CDR TF FALCON PRIORITY
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRISTINA 000312 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR DRL, INL, EUR/SCE 
NSC FOR HELGERSON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OVIP PREL PGOV PINR EAID KV
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: CODEL ENGEL WELCOMES NEW CONSTITUTION 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) led a a delegation 
to Kosovo June 13-16 to mark the entry into force of Kosovo's 
new constitution on June 15.  Accompanying him on the trip 
was Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH), who visited Kosovo for the 
first time, and a prominent group of Kosovar-American 
businesspersons.  The CODEL met with President Sejdiu, PM 
Thaci, FM Hyseni as well as leaders of all political parties. 
 This trip also marked the first time Rep. Engel met 
officially with Kosovo Serb political leaders.  The CODEL's 
overarching message was one of support and friendship for 
Kosovo from the United States.  Throughout the trip and in 
all his meetings, the CODEL stressed the importance of 
working across political lines to keep Kosovo stable and calm 
during the current transition period, and the need for Kosovo 
to be inclusive of and responsive to its minority 
communities.  All interlocutors agreed with these principles, 
although opposition politicians viewed June 15 as a reason to 
be more critical of the ruling coalition.  The capstone to 
the CODEL's visit was Rep. Engel's emotional and heartfelt 
address to the Kosovo Assembly -- the first by a foreign 
dignitary since independence and an event very warmly 
received by Kosovo leaders from across the political 
spectrum.  Throughout the visit, press was out in force and 
reported on Rep. Engel's history as a champion of Kosovo 
freedom and independence.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), accompanied by Rep. Jean 
Schmidt (R-OH) and a prominent group of Kosovar-American 
businesspersons, paid a June 13-16 visit to Kosovo and were 
on hand to welcome the entry into force of Kosovo's new 
constitution (reftel).  During his visit, Engel spent a day 
in western Kosovo visiting Peja/Pec, where a street was named 
in his honor in 2005, the family home of AAK party leader 
Ramush Haradinaj in Gllojan (near Decan), and StoneCastle 
Vineyards, a privatization success story of a 
Kosovar-American businessman, located in the wine-growing 
region of Rahovec. 
 
Meetings with Government 
------------------------ 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  The CODEL met jointly with President Fatmir Sejdiu 
and FM Skender Hyseni and stressed the need to be proactive 
in requesting recognition of Kosovo from other states.  Engel 
offered his own services, commenting that as Chairman of the 
House subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs, he meets 
regularly with high ranking officials from that region. 
Engel also encouraged Sejdiu to send an ambassador to 
Washington "as soon as possible."  After a brief visit to 
Camp Bondsteel to greet U.S. troops, the CODEL was welcomed 
by PM Thaci at his family home outside of Skenderaj, in the 
village of Buroj.  In addition to raising the issue of 
further recognition for Kosovo and the need for leaders to be 
more active, Rep. Schmidt raised the problem of energy 
shortfalls, asking PM Thaci and Assembly President Krasniqi, 
in separate meetings, to focus their policies on long-term 
solutions. 
 
The Opposition 
-------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) CODEL Engel met with all the opposition party 
leaders, including Agim Ceku (PDSK), Nexhat Daci (LDD), 
Bexhet Pacolli (AKR), Ramush Haradinaj (AAK), and Teuta 
Sahatquija (ORA).  The overall tone of this group was very 
critical of the ruling PDK/LDK coalition and they gave Engel 
a message that now that the constitution was in effect, they 
would be even more vocal in their criticism of the 
shortcomings of the government, including in the areas of 
healthcare, education, the economy and energy.  As he had in 
all his previous meetings, Rep. Engel underscored to this 
group the need to cooperate, even with political rivals, on 
issues of mutual importance, and said that there are many 
issues in Kosovo, including recognition, that transcend party 
politics.  He pointed to his colleague Rep. Schmidt as an 
example of how both sides of the U.S. Congress can 
collaborate on issues of importance, such as support for 
 
PRISTINA 00000312  002 OF 002 
 
 
Kosovo. 
 
Kosovo Serbs in the Assembly 
---------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU)  By his own account, this visit marked the first 
time that Rep. Engel, who has visited Kosovo numerous times 
over the last 20 years, met officially with Kosovo Serbs. 
The scheduled half hour meeting with the SLS caucus, led by 
Bojan Stojanovic, ran nearly and hour and would have 
continued if there had been more time.  In a comment to 
Poloff, Engel said he went into the meeting not really 
knowing what to expect, but certainly not expecting to come 
away from the meeting so positively impressed by the courage 
of that small group of lawmakers, dedicated to working within 
Kosovo institutions.  He indicated he would want to meet 
again with this group on future visits to Kosovo. 
 
Engel Addresses the Assembly 
---------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) After meeting with the Assembly President Krasniqi, 
where discussion touched on the challenges facing Kosovo's 
development and the important role lawmakers play to provide 
the necessary legislative framework to ensure growth and 
prosperity, Congressman Engel gave remarks to the Assembly of 
Kosovo at a special session convened in his honor.  Noting 
his involvement over the years in support of the fight for 
freedom and independence, Engel delivered an emotional 
message of friendship and support from the United States.  He 
focused on the need to maintain a safe and secure environment 
for all Kosovo's citizens, especially its minority 
communities, and said that the institutions of Kosovo needed 
to take over the reins of governance and apply themselves to 
stamping out corruption, strengthening the rule of law, and 
improving the economy so all could prosper and live 
peacefully in Kosovo.  (Note: entire text can be found at 
www.pristina.usembassy.gov) 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶7. (SBU)  CODEL Engel's visit was timely and constructive, 
and brought a message of friendship and support for Kosovo 
during the continuing, difficult transition from UN 
protectorate to supervised independence.  It also reinforced 
our own constant messages of patience and restraint on the 
part of Kosovar authorities in dealing with the north and 
other Serb-majority areas, and the need to cooperate across 
party lines.  We welcomed, in particular, the CODEL's meeting 
with members of the Kosovo Serb caucus in the Assembly, which 
demonstrated clearly the USG vision of a multi-ethnic Kosovo 
where there is room for all to participate in its 
institutions.  End Comment. 
 
¶8.  (U) CODEL Engel did not have the opportunity to clear 
this message. 
YAZDGERDI