UNCLAS TIRANA 000540
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE (BENEDICT, SAINZ
NSC FOR BRAUN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL, MK, SZ, AL
SUBJECT: ALBANIA REACTS POSITIVELY TO MONTENEGRO'S VOTE FOR
INDEPENDENCE
1. (SBU) GoA officials were quick to comment positively --
and to key their comments on Euro-Atlantic integration
prospects -- regarding the results of Montenegro's Referendum
on Independence after initial results were announced early on
May 22. President Moisiu called Montenegrin President
Vujanovic and praised the referendum as "an important step
forward for the people of Montenegro and a significant event
for the entire region for its development and for the
preservation of peace and stability." Moisiu also noted
existing good relations and expressed hope for a deepening
reciprocal cooperation, especially on both countries goals
for integration with the rest of
Europe.
2. (SBU) PM Berisha also hailed the results and expressed
congratulations to Montenegrin PM Djukanovic. In a press
release, Berisha said the Montenegrin people's decision
"makes our region more stable, freer, and more resolute
toward Euro-Atlantic integration. This decision, along with
Kosovo's final status -- its independence -- puts in the past
a region of wars, conflicts, divisions, unjust punishments
and artificial federations and paves the way to a region of
peace, stability, welfare, integration, of free nations and
free minorities which work in friendship for their
Euro-Atlantic future". Berisha, clearly assuming that ethnic
Albanians had voted overwhelmingly in favor of independence,
stated, "The Albanian origin citizens of Montenegro voted
yesterday for the independence of their country and together
with other Montenegrin citizens promoted change in the
Balkans. I am convinced they will work with more devotion
for the consolidation of democracy, welfare and Montenegro's
European future."
3. (SBU) On Serbia, Berisha said, "I also want to praise the
realistic stance of the Serbian Government toward the
Montenegrin peoples right for self-determination. I am sure
Belgrade's attitude has aided Serbia's separation from its
bitter past and helped its orientation toward the future the
Serbian nation deserves." Less gracious was former PM and
Socialist Party General Secretary Pandeli Majko, who said
"finally, Albania is not a neighbor country with Serbia."
Other politicians linked the referendum results to Kosovo's
prospects for independence, noting that Serbia should base
its relations with its neighbors on political will rather
than dictate.
RIES