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RAAUZYUW RUEHPOD0227 1831054-UUUU--RHMCSUU.
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021054Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
B T UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PODGORICA 000227 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS:      
SUBJECT: SERBS IN MONTENEGRO PROTEST U.S. POLICY ON KOSOVO 
 
 
PODGORICA 00000227  001.3 OF 003 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY 
 
 
 
 1. (SBU) SUMMARY: SMALL BUT STRIDENT, TWO LOCALLY-BASED ETHNIC 
SERB ORGANIZATIONS, THE ASSOCIATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS IN 
MONTENEGRO AND THE SERBIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL OF MONTENEGRO, HAVE 
STRONGLY OPPOSED THE USG POLICY SUPPORTING INDEPENDENCE FOR 
KOSOVO.  IN LETTERS TO THE EMBASSY, AND A JUNE 21 DEMONSTRATION, 
THE GROUPS REJECTED THE U.S. POSITION ON KOSOVO. THE ASSOCIATION 
OF DISPLACED PERSONS IN AN ADDITIONAL HARSH DECLARATION ADOPTED 
ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1389 BATTLE OF KOSOVO, CALLED FOR THE 
ENTRY OF SERBIAN "SECURITY FORCES" INTO KOSOVO AND "REQUESTED" 
THAT THE GOM (AND GOS) DECLARE THE U.S. EMBASSY PERSONA NON 
GRATA. THE GROUPS' ACTIONS, IN CONTRAST TO THEIR WORDS, HAVE 
BEEN PEACEFUL SO FAR. END SUMMARY. 
 
 
 
FLORID RHETORIC 
 
--------------- 
 
 
 
 2. (SBU) RESPONDING TO PRESIDENT BUSH'S DECLARATION OF USG 
SUPPORT FOR THE INDEPENDENCE OF KOSOVO, TWO SMALL GROUPS OF 
ETHNIC SERBS HAVE EMPLOYED FLORID RHETORIC TO REJECT NOT ONLY 
THE USG POSITION, BUT ALSO TO "REQUEST" THAT THE GOM (AND GOS) 
DECLARE THE U.S. EMBASSIES PERSONA NON GRATA.  THE GROUPS ARE 
THE ASSOCIATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS IN MONTENEGRO (THE 
"ASSOCIATION"), WHICH HAS ABOUT 200 DISPLACED KOSOVAR SERBS 
RESIDENT IN MONTENEGRO AS MEMBERS, AND THE SERBIAN NATIONAL 
COUNCIL OF MONTENEGRO (SNV), WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED AN 
NGO WITH SEVERAL HUNDRED MEMBERS, ETHNIC SERBS WHO ARE CITIZENS 
OF MONTENEGRO.  THE PRESIDENT OF THE SNV, MOMCILO VUKSANOVIC, 
WAS ELECTED AS AN MP LAST SEPTEMBER AS A MEMBER OF THE SERBIAN 
LIST. 
 
 
 
 3. (SBU) THE GROUPS HAVE OPERATED IN TANDEM, DRAFTING LETTERS TO 
POST AND ORGANIZING A DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF THE EMBASSY ON 
THE EVENING OF JUNE 21. A SUBSET OF THE ASSOCIATION, CALLING 
ITSELF THE ASSOCIATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS IN MONTENEGRO 
"KOSMET" [NOTE: I.E., KOSOVO AND METOHIJA. END NOTE.] SENT POST 
AN ADDITIONAL, MUCH HARSHER, "ST. VITUS'S DAY" DECLARATION ON 
JUNE 28. (NOTE: ST. VITUS'S DAY, JUNE 28, MARKS THE HISTORIC 
BATTLE OF KOSOVO IN 1389 - IT IS ALSO THE DAY THAT SERB 
ASSASSINS KILLED ARCHDUKE FERDINAND IN SARAJEVO IN 1914. END 
NOTE.) POST ESTIMATES THAT THE ASSOCIATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS 
IN MONTENEGRO "KOSMET" HAS SOME FIFTY MEMBERS, ALL OF WHOM ARE 
ALSO MEMBERS OF THE LARGER ASSOCIATION. 
 
 
 
 4. (SBU) THE COMMON THEME IS THAT THE USG, BY SUPPORTING 
INDEPENDENCE FOR KOSOVO, IS ADVANCING GENOCIDE AND ETHNIC 
CLEANSING BY ALBANIANS, CREATING AN "OUTLAW" STATE. THE GROUPS 
CHARACTERIZE THE USG, AND NOT MERELY THE POLICY, AS DESPOTIC AND 
MURDEROUS. CONVERSELY, THE GROUPS DEMONSTRATORS ON JUNE 21 
(ABOUT 90-100, MOSTLY YOUNG MALES, ACCORDING TO EMBASSY GUARD 
FORCE, 300 ACCORDING TO THE GROUPS' STATEMENT TO THE MEDIA), 
WERE WELL-BEHAVED. CURIOUSLY, THE ASSOCIATION SOUGHT A MEETING 
WITH POST AT THE SAME TIME THAT IT DEMANDED THE CLOSURE OF THE 
U.S. EMBASSY. 
 
 
 
 5. (SBU) THE ST. VITUS'S DAY DECLARATION IS THE HARSHEST OF THE 
COMMUNICATIONS TO DATE.  INFORMAL EMBASSY TRANSLATION: 
 
 
 
CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT THE STATE OF SERBIA IS A FULL-FLEDGED 
MEMBER OF THE UN; CONSIDERING THE PRINCIPLE OF STATE SOVEREIGNTY 
AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF THE STATE OF SERBIA WHICH IS 
GUARANTEED BY THE SERBIAN CONSTITUTION AND CONFIRMED BY THE 
RESOLUTION 1244 OF THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL, IN RELATION WITH 
AN ATTEMPT TO FORCIBLY SEIZE KOSOVO AND METOHIJA FROM SERBIA 
AIMED AT CREATING A NEW ALBANIAN "MONSTER" STATE IN THE BALKANS 
BASED ON GENOCIDE AND THE ETHNIC CLEANSING OF THE SERBIAN 
PEOPLE, CONTRARY TO INTERNATIONAL LAW AND OTHER HIGHEST NORMS OF 
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, IN WHICH OFFICIAL AMERICA HAS TAKEN 
THE LEAD, THE ASSEMBLY OF THE ASSOCIATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS 
IN MONTENEGRO "KOSMET", AT ITS REGULAR SESSION HELD ON JUNE 27, 
2007, ADOPTED A 
 
 
 
DECLARATION OF VIDOVDAN (ST VITUS' DAY) 
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PODGORICA 00000227  002.3 OF 003 
 
 
 
 
 
BY WHICH THE STATE LEADERSHIPS OF SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO ARE 
REQUESTED TO: 
 
 
 
 1. CANCEL URGENTLY AND COMPULSORILY THE HOSPITALITY [GIVEN] TO 
THE U.S. EMBASSIES AND ITS AMBASSADORS TO BELGRADE AND 
PODGORICA, FOR THEIR PRESENCE AND ACTIONS PROVOKE FEAR OF NEW 
WAR CLASHES IN THIS REGION. IN ADDITION TO THAT, OFFICIAL 
AMERICA HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A SYNONYM FOR BLOOD, DESPOTISM, 
BARBARITY, LEGALIZATION OF CRIME, AND BANISHMENT. 
 
 
 
-- PURSUANT TO THE RESOLUTION 1244, SEND THE STATE SECURITY 
FORCES INTO THE AREA OF KOSMET WITHOUT HESITATION. THIS IS ALL 
THE MORE NECESSARY, FOR PEACE HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED IN THAT 
PART OF SERBIA AFTER EIGHT YEARS. THE MINIMAL CONDITIONS FOR THE 
RETURN OF 300,000 EXILES HAVE NOT BEEN CREATED. THE REMAINING 
NATION-BUILDING SERBS AND MONTENEGRINS IN THE PROVINCE ARE BEING 
FIRED UPON EVERY DAY, WHERE THE ALBANIAN CRIMINAL PERPETRATORS 
REMAIN UNDISCOVERED THANKS TO THEIR ABETTORS FROM THE QUASI-UN 
PEACEKEEPING TROOPS. 
 
 
 
 2. WE PUBLICLY EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO THE STATE LEADERSHIP OF 
RUSSIA AND PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN FOR HIS CONSISTENCY IN 
TRYING TO PREVENT THE REDRAWING OF INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED 
STATE BORDERS OF SOVEREIGN STATES, AND FOR THE SUPPORT WHICH 
OFFICIAL RUSSIA OFFERS TO SERBIA WITH THE VIEW OF PRESERVING ITS 
SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY. 
 
 
 
 3. WE SEND AN OFFICIAL PROTEST TO THE U.S. EMBASSY IN PODGORICA 
AND TO THE DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVES OF OTHER COUNTRIES OF THE 
SO CALLED "CIVILIZED WEST", WHICH ADVOCATE THE FORCED SEIZURE OF 
KOSOVO AND METOHIJA IN FAVOR OF THE ALBANIAN NATIONAL MINORITY, 
WITH THE MESSAGE THAT READS: 
 
WE SHALL NEVER EVER GIVE UP KOSOVO AND METOHIJA, AN ODE TO OUR 
EXISTENCE, AN ANTHEM OF OUR LIFE." 
 
 
 
END INFORMAL TRANSLATION. 
 
 
 
ASSOCIATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS IN MONTENEGRO 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
 
 
 6. (SBU) THE HEAD OF THE LARGER ASSOCIATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS 
SAID THAT THE JUNE 28 DECLARATION ABOVE WAS FORMALLY ADOPTED 
ONLY BY A SMALLER "KOSMET" SUB-GROUP, BUT THAT HE AGREED WITH 
IT.  (NOTE: AT THEIR REQUEST, THE PRINCIPAL OFFICER MET WITH 
REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS ASSOCIATION IN SEPTEMBER 2005. AT THAT 
TIME, THEY COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BAD SITUATION IN MONTENEGRO FOR 
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS FROM KOSOVO. THEY EXPLAINED THAT 
THE ASSOCIATION GATHERS 15 NGOS OF DISPLACED PERSONS FROM KOSOVO 
AND REFUGEES FROM BOSNIA AND CROATIA, AND THAT ITS OFFICES ARE 
CO-LOCATED WITH A COLLECTIVE CENTER IN SUTOMORE, ON THE COAST 
NEAR BAR.  END NOTE.) 
 
 
 
SERBIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL OF MONTENEGRO 
 
-------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
 7. (SBU) THE SERBIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL OF MONTENEGRO (SNV) WAS 
ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED AS AN NGO, AND HAS SEVERAL HUNDRED 
MEMBERS.  (NOTE: NOW THAT IT HAS AN MP, THE SNV SHOULD 
RE-REGISTER AS A POLITICAL PARTY, BUT THERE IS NO INDICATION IT 
HAS DONE SO -- UNDERSCORING THE WEAKNESSES IN BOTH THE NGO AND 
PARTY REGISTRATION LAWS. END NOTE.) THE MEMBERS ARE ETHNIC SERB 
CITIZENS OF MONTENEGRO. THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE SNV, 
MOMCILO VUKSANOVIC, WAS ELECTED AS AN MP LAST SEPTEMBER AS A 
MEMBER OF THE SERBIAN LIST, A COALITION OF NATIONALIST SERB 
PARTIES IN MONTENEGRO HEADED BY ANDRIJA MANDIC OF THE SERBIAN 
PEOPLES PARTY. VUKSANOVIC HAD BEEN A MEMBER OF THE SERBIA AND 
MONTENEGRO PARLIAMENT FROM THE SOCIALIST PEOPLE'S PARTY (SNP). 
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PODGORICA 00000227  003.3 OF 003 
 
 
THE SNV, AND VUKSANOVIC, ARE SEEN AS CLOSE TO THE NATIONALIST 
POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IN BELGRADE, AND TO THE SERBIAN NATIONAL 
COUNCIL OF NORTH KOSOVO AND METOHIJA, BASED IN MITROVICA, KOSOVO. 
 
 
 
COMMENT 
 
------- 
 
 
 
 8. (SBU) IT IS DIFFICULT TO JUDGE THE NUMBER OF KOSOVAR SERBS IN 
MONTENEGRO; UNLIKE ROMA OR ALBANIANS FROM KOSOVO, OR REFUGEES 
FROM CROATIA OR BOSNIA, KOSOVAR SERBS GENERALLY HOLD SERBIAN OR 
EVEN MONTENEGRIN IDENTIFICATION PAPERS. THE JUNE 21 
DEMONSTRATION WAS ADVERTISED IN ADVANCE, AND IT IS LIKELY THAT 
MANY OF THE 90-ODD WHO CAME TO THE EMBASSY ARE NOT MEMBERS OF 
EITHER GROUP. 
 
 
 
 9. (SBU) POST DOES NOT BELIEVE THE GROUPS TYPIFY 
MONTENEGRO-BASED ETHNIC SERB VIEWS ABOUT THE USG ROLE IN THE 
REGION.  WHILE THE LARGER SERB PARTIES IN MONTENEGRO CLEARLY 
WANT THE GOM TO SUPPORT THE GOS'S EFFORTS TO RETAIN KOSOVO, THEY 
HAVE NOT EMPLOYED SUCH SHARP RHETORIC, AGAINST EITHER THE GOM OR 
USG. 
BARNES 
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