VZCZCXRO9589
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHSQ #0519 2261354
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 131354Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY SKOPJE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7606
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE 0394
RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUESEN/SKOPJE BETA
RUEHSQ/USDAO SKOPJE MK
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2332
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
UNCLAS SKOPJE 000519
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/SCE AND EUR/RPM
E.O. 12958: DECL: NA
TAGS: MARR NATO PGOV HR AL MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA PREPARED TO CONTINUE WITH ADRIATIC CHARTER, BUT
ONLY WITH GENUINE CROATIAN AND ALBANIAN PARTICIPATION
REF: STATE 85946
Sensitive but unclassified -- please protect accordingly.
1. (SBU) Per reftel, we discussed the future of the Adriatic Charter
August 13 with Zoran Dabik, MFA Director for Political-Security
Cooperation and Multilateral Affairs. Dabik responded that Macedonia
was prepared to participate eagerly in a new Adriatic Charter
arrangement with Montenegro, Bosnia, and -- perhaps -- Serbia, but
only if Croatia and Albania also participate meaningfully. Macedonia
does not wish to be categorized as having the same NATO status as
Montenegro, Bosnia, and Serbia, but at the same time the GoM
recognizes the value of maintaining a mentoring regional body. He
understood that the level of DoD participation may diminish, but saw
this as putting positive pressure on the original A-3 countries as
Allies (or near-Allies, in Macedonia's case) to take the lead.
2. (SBU) Dabik expressed concern that Zagreb and Tirana -- especially
the latter -- have seemed eager to drop the Adriatic Charter since
they received NATO invitations in April. He noted that Albania
failed to convene an A-3 meeting even though they were the current
chair. He believed the GoA was linking adding Montenegro to the
grouping to Montenegrin recognition of Kosovo. Dabik added that
Croatia has shown more enthusiasm for the future of the Charter, but
believes both capitals will need a push.
NAVRATIL