VZCZCXRO2080
OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR
DE RUEHC #9661/01 0300117
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O P 300110Z JAN 10
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE IMMEDIATE 1254
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 9673

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 009661 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2020 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KV SR
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: SERBIA'S PLANS FOR A NEW DRAFT UNGA 
RESOLUTION ON KOSOVO 
 
REF: A. BELGRADE 3 
     ¶B. STATE 1174 
 
Classified By: EUR A/S Philip H. Gordon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
ACTION REQUEST:  See paras 4 and 5. 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST:  Media and Embassy 
Belgrade reporting (ref A) indicate the Serbian government is 
considering a draft UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution 
calling for reopening Kosovo status talks between Pristina 
and Belgrade when the UNGA considers the International Court 
of Justice (ICJ),s advisory opinion on Kosovo's February 
2008 declaration of independence, expected this 
spring/summer.  Key EU partners France, Germany, Italy, and 
the UK have informed us that they plan to approach the 
Serbian government separately to warn Belgrade against 
pursuing this course.  Washington supports this effort to 
convince President Tadic and the Serbian government to use 
this occasion to adopt a less confrontational approach on 
Kosovo.  Drawing on points in para 5, Embassy Belgrade is 
requested to demarche host government to raise our serious 
concerns about Belgrade's plans.  Post may wish to coordinate 
timing and delivery of this message with Quint partners; 
Balkan directors agreed that demarches would be made 
separately but in unison. END ACTION REQUEST. 
 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
¶2.  (C) In his September 2008 meeting with then-Secretary 
Rice, Serbian FM Jeremic claimed that Serbia's ICJ strategy 
was merely a smart diplomatic and political move that would 
allow the Serbian government to get beyond the Kosovo issue 
and focus on domestic reforms and Euro-Atlantic integration. 
The ICJ case would allow the government to keep its campaign 
promise to fight for Kosovo without engaging in more 
aggressive actions.  Embassy Belgrade (ref A) and media 
reports indicate that Serbia is now considering tabling a new 
draft UN General Assembly resolution calling for reopening 
Kosovo status talks between Pristina and Belgrade soon after 
the International Court of Justice (ICJ) announces its 
opinion on Kosovo's February 2008 declaration of 
independence.  Secretary Clinton, in her December 2009 
meeting with Jeremic (ref B), urged Belgrade to find a way to 
shift its foreign policy focus away from Kosovo after the ICJ 
renders an opinion. 
 
¶3. (C) In ref A, Embassy Belgrade notes that there may be a 
split in the Serbian government over how to proceed following 
the issuance of an opinion by the ICJ, with Jeremic leading 
those who wish to continue 
to press the Kosovo issue in international fora.  Washington 
agrees with EU partners France, Germany, Italy and the UK 
that now is the right time to warn Serbia of the 
repercussions of pursuing this strategy and to encourage 
Belgrade to focus instead on its EU integration efforts in 
the post-ICJ period. 
 
ACTION REQUEST 
-------------- 
 
¶4. (C) Post is requested to raise this issue with the 
appropriate Serbian government officials, including in 
President Tadic's office, as soon as practicable, drawing on 
the objectives in para 5.  Please report delivery and the 
Serbian government response by February 5.  France, Germany, 
Italy, and the UK also plan to deliver similar points with 
Belgrade; Washington would appreciate any readout that 
Embassy Belgrade receives on their discussions with the 
Serbian government.  POC for this request is EUR/SCE Senior 
Serbia Desk Officer Calvin Peterson, email 
PetersonCD@state.gov or PetersonCD@state.sgov.gov. 
 
¶5. (C/REL BELGRADE)  Key Objectives: 
 
-- Underscore our serious concern over reports that the 
Serbian government is considering tabling a draft resolution 
at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) calling for reopening 
Kosovo status talks between Pristina and Belgrade soon after 
the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issues its advisory 
opinion on Kosovo's February 2008 declaration of 
independence. 
 
-- Urge Belgrade against this action, and note that the 
United States and key European partners will have no choice 
 
STATE 00009661  002 OF 002 
 
 
but to oppose it. 
 
-- Reiterate U.S. support for Serbia's EU membership 
aspirations.  Our EU partners tell us that Belgrade's 
application will be judged on the merits.  We are concerned, 
however, that Belgrade will hinder its EU membership 
application if it continues to press to reopen Kosovo's 
status.  To move forward on its European integration 
aspirations, Serbia must find a way to get past the Kosovo 
issue, particularly after the ICJ issues an opinion. 
 
-- Note that, as Vice President Biden told President Tadic in 
May 2009, we are not asking Serbia to recognize Kosovo.  We 
urge Belgrade to cease attempts to contest Kosovo,s status, 
including by lobbying against recognitions or pursuing 
unhelpful actions in international organizations, after the 
ICJ renders its opinion. 
 
-- Urge the Serbian government to re-engage on practical 
issues in Kosovo as soon as possible once the ICJ has 
rendered its opinion so that Belgrade can focus on moving 
forward on the EU integration process. 
 
-- Emphasize that Serbia needs to focus on finding ways to 
co-exist with an independent Kosovo.  Belgrade must be more 
cooperative on Kosovo, including on practical issues such as 
judges, customs, electricity and participation in regional 
fora. 
 
-- On regional fora: Stress that Serbia should accept a 
compromise that would allow the inclusion of Kosovo. 
Serbia,s block of Kosovo,s participation in regional 
organizations/meetings is creating stalemate on issues across 
the board (e.g., CEFTA, a transport treaty).  Serbia must 
come to a mutual compromise with Kosovo on conditions for 
Kosovo,s participation, to include requirements for Kosovo 
name tags, representation, and signature. 
 
-- Emphasize that Serbia needs to demonstrate that it can 
establish and maintain good neighborly relations with all its 
neighbors in South Central Europe in order to advance its 
European aspirations and assume a constructive leadership 
role in the region. 
CLINTON