VZCZCXRO4932
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHVK
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DE RUEHPS #0398 2571238
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 141238Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY PRISTINA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9277
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1208
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1729
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 000398 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/PGI, INL, DRL, PRM, USAID 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KV
SUBJECT: KOSOVO:  ASSEMBLY SPEAKER PROMISES PROTOCOL SUPPORT 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY 
¶1. (SBU) Kosovo Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi, in a meeting with 
the Ambassador on September 9, promised his support to reduce 
political tensions over the EULEX-Serbia law enforcement protocol. 
The Ambassador thanked Krasniqi for previous public comments the 
Speaker made to reduce political volatility stirred up by 
overwrought media coverage of the protocol.  Krasniqi said the issue 
should be settled between the Government of Kosovo (GOK) and EULEX 
without interference from the Assembly or the distraction of a 
parliamentary debate. 
¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador told the Speaker that the protocol would not 
infringe on Kosovo's independence and sovereignty.  The greater risk 
is that Pristina's dispute with EULEX over the protocol damages both 
the GOK's reputation and Kosovo's interests in European capitals. 
The Ambassador informed Krasniqi that we are working with the 
government on public messaging to dampen emotions over the protocol 
issue.  If tensions remain high, we run the risk of roiling radicals 
to act out and damage Kosovo's image in Europe.  Krasniqi responded 
that the government and EULEX should handle negotiations over the 
protocol between themselves and agreed to keep the subject from 
being debated within the Assembly.  Krasniqi said he would consult 
with parliamentary leaders and noted approvingly that Deputy Prime 
Minister Kuci had already addressed two Assembly committees to 
present the government's position regarding the law enforcement 
protocol. 
¶3. (U) Last week Krasniqi told media sources that the EULEX protocol 
would be signed and defended the agreement as necessary for EULEX to 
combat organized crime, smuggling, and trafficking, while furthering 
efforts to restore the rule of law in the North.  Krasniqi is the 
only prominent GOK leader to date to voice support for the protocol. 
 The Speaker, a member of Prime Minister Thaci's ruling PDK, also 
publicly criticized Thaci and President Sejdiu for mishandling the 
protocol issue. 
¶4. (SBU) Comment:  The EULEX protocol continues to dominate local 
media coverage, putting the government on the defensive.  There are 
currently no requests from MPs to debate the issue, but last week 
the Assembly's Security Committee requested protocol-related 
documents from both the government and EULEX, a possible prelude to 
a full parliamentary debate.  We know that Krasniqi's statesmanship 
on the protocol comes as an order from the Prime Minister, and the 
Speaker has risen to the occasion, taking a position that is 
politically unpopular and demonstrating good cooperation in limiting 
the damage that this negotiation sideshow might cause for Kosovo's 
European aspirations.  End Comment. 
 
DELL