VZCZCXRO3646
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHVK
RUEHYG
DE RUEHPS #0395 2541545
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 111545Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY PRISTINA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9273
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1205
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1726
RHFMIUU/AFSOUTH NAPLES IT
RHMFISS/CDR TF FALCON
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEPGEA/CDR650THMIGP SHAPE BE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHDC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUZEJAA/USNIC PRISTINA SR

UNCLAS PRISTINA 000395 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/PGI, INL, DRL, PRM, USAID 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KV
SUBJECT: KOSOVO:  AMBASSADOR MEETS OPPOSITION LEADER HARADINAJ 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY 
 
¶1. (SBU) Ambassador met with Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) 
party leader, and former prime minister, Ramush Haradinaj on 
September 9.  The two discussed a range of international and 
domestic political issues in a frank and friendly exchange. 
Ambassador told Haradinaj that a key part of his agenda was 
supporting the further development of Kosovo's institutions and that 
in a democracy a constructive opposition was also a legitimate 
institution that should be given space to play an important role. 
That said, this also imposed a certain responsibility on the 
opposition not to play politics with matters of genuine national 
interest.  The reaction to the now-famous EULEX protocol was just 
such an issue and Ambassador urged all the parties to frame their 
reactions within the context of furthering Kosovo's European 
ambitions.  Ambassador told Haradinaj that we will work with both 
the GOK and the opposition to forge a new political consensus. 
 
STRAINED RELATIONS WITH ICR, MOST PARTY LEADERS 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Haradinaj offered his cooperation, saying that the U.S. 
Ambassador to Kosovo has an important role to play in Pristina and 
that "we look to you to guide us."  The former prime minister said 
his party had been unsuccessful in its efforts to contribute to the 
country's political process in a cooperative way.  Haradinaj said he 
had tried to be supportive but contended that he has failed in his 
dealings with International Civilian Representative (ICR) and EU 
Special Representative Pieter Feith. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Haradinaj discussed relations with his political rivals: 
"poor" with Prime Minister Thaci, "correct" with President Sejdiu, 
and "problematic" with New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) party leader 
Behghet Pacolli and Democratic League of Dardania (LDD) party leader 
Nexhat Daci.  He recounted his unsuccessful efforts earlier in the 
year to "invite" LDK MPs to leave the governing coalition and join 
AAK, and his more recent difficulties trying to broker an alliance 
with LDD.  Haradinaj concluded by saying, "we failed to do great 
things," and claimed that AAK now has no political objectives in the 
Assembly until after the November 15 municipal elections.  (Note: 
AAK is the largest, best-organized and most coherent opposition 
party in the Kosovo Assembly but its block of 14 MPs is too small to 
challenge the government on most legislative issues.  End Note) 
 
AAK SHIFTS FOCUS FROM NATIONAL TO LOCAL ELECTIONS 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Haradinaj told Ambassador that AAK's prior political 
strategy had been predicated on contesting the ruling coalition in 
early national elections this year.  Now the party is focusing on 
preparations for local elections in November and eyeing national 
elections in 2011.  He said AAK is currently not ready to take 
power.  At the same time, Haradinaj's analysis of the current 
governing coalition paints a picture of instability leading to 
"disaffected" PDK and LDK MPs who are defecting from their parties. 
Ambassador encouraged Haradinaj to use the upcoming municipal 
elections to shape AAK's political message in preparation for 
national elections in 2011. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Comment:  Haradinaj was less than genuine in describing 
AAK's political machinations over the past year as "cooperative." 
However, the relaxed meeting--complete with mutual reminiscing from 
Ambassador's prior posting in Pristina-- revitalized our 
relationship with Kosovo's leading opposition figure.  With Kosovo 
at a delicate point in its relations with Europe, Pristina's 
politicians must work together to avoid Belgrade's traps and 
European prejudices in order to advance the country's interests. 
Haradinaj seems to have taken the message on board, at least to the 
extent of refusing to comment on the protocol when questioned by the 
press after the meeting.  End Comment. 
 
DELL