VZCZCXRO2927
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHBW #0964 2591243
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151243Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0425
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RHEHNS/NSC WASHDC
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE

UNCLAS BELGRADE 000964 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL SR KV
SUBJECT: SERBIA:  UNMIK CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ENGAGING 
GOVERNMENT ON "PRACTICAL MATTERS" 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  (SBU) UNMIK SRSG Lamberto Zannier told us on September 12 that 
he was cautiously optimistic that he could continue to engage with 
the Serbian Government on resolving "practical matters" related to 
Kosovo Serbs, but expected slow progress on any solutions.  Zannier 
said they were closest on a deal related to the reopening of the 
courts in Northern Kosovo, but expected no action until after the UN 
General Assembly.  Progress on most other issues was hindered by 
Serbian attempts to reexamine the question of Kosovo's status, said 
Zannier.  End Summary. 
 
Serbia "Sufficiently Constructive" 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) SRSG Zannier told us at the conclusion of his September 12 
meetings with Serbian officials in Belgrade that Serbia was 
"sufficiently constructive" in talks, which he said merited follow 
on discussions.  Zannier had held meetings with Serbia's Minister 
for Kosovo Goran Bogdanovic, State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic, and 
Ministry for Foreign Affairs Political Director Borko Stefanovic. 
He described the talks as "what must be done in order to get some 
result on resolving practical matters."  (Under the new government, 
the MFA, and specificially Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, now has the 
lead on all Kosovo policy issues.  The Kosovo Ministry, under 
Bogdanovic and Ivanovic, is responsible solely for the operational 
implementation of this policy.  This division of responsibility is 
in stark contrast to the former government when the Kosovo Ministry, 
led by then Minister Slobodan Samardzic, directed Kosovo policy.) 
 
Closest on Judiciary, Far on Police and Customs 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Zannier said his talks with the Serbian leadership had 
provided an "amber light" to follow up on plans to reopen the courts 
in North Mitrovica.  Zannier had proposed to Bodganovic to reinsert 
international staff in North Mitrovica to handle the pending 
caseload while Bogdanovic was insisting on including Serbian 
judicial staffers immediately.  Zannier said progress could be made 
on this, but realistically thought it would not happen until after 
the UN General Assembly had voted on Serbia's International Court of 
Justice proposal. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) On all other issues, particularly returning Kosovo Serbs 
to the Kosovo Police Service (KPS) or reopening Customs in the 
north, the Serbian government was hindering talks by raising the 
question of Kosovo's status at every step, Zannier said.  Resolving 
these isues would require greater will at higher levels in the 
Serbian government, he said. 
 
Some Progress Could Lead to More 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) If an agreement was reached on the judiciary, it could 
facilitate agreement on other pending issues, said Acting Deputy 
SRSG David Harland, who accompanied Zannier.  He said he was certain 
that Kosovo Serbs would ultimately go along with any plans which 
Belgrade endorsed.  The goal, he said, was to focus on concrete 
issues which would improve the situation on the ground.  Like 
Zannier, he recognized this would take time and said Serbia was in 
no obvious hurry. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) With no other venues to address these lingering practical 
issues affecting Kosovo Serbs, Zannier continues his methodical 
efforts to find even the smallest space for common ground.  Whether 
his efforts will pay off and lead to additional agreements will 
depend greatly on how much time Serbian leaders believe they have 
left to influence the developing institutional structures in Kosovo 
and whether the upcoming ICJ decision in the UNGA strengthens 
Serbia's political hand.  End Comment. 
 
MUNTER