Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 07BELGRADE441, NEW TOBACCO STRATEGY ADOPTED

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07BELGRADE441.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07BELGRADE441 2007-04-03 07:28 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Belgrade
VZCZCXYZ0002
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBW #0441/01 0930728
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 030728Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0564
INFO RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 1421
RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO 0329
RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE 0866
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
UNCLAS BELGRADE 000441 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/SCE RIEHL 
USEU BRUSSELS FOR MOZUR 
STATE PASS USTR FOR HAFNER 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD ECON PREL HR SR
SUBJECT: NEW TOBACCO STRATEGY ADOPTED 
 
REF: BELGRADE 255 AND PREVIOUS 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
1.  (u) The Government of Serbia (GoS) adopted an action 
plan for tobacco production and trade on March 22 in order 
to smooth its relationship with the cigarette industry and 
at the same time permit ratification of the Central 
European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA).  The new strategy 
has been negotiated with the tobacco industry to resolve 
the threat posed by the elimination of a discriminatory 
excise tax that protected the domestic producers, a legacy 
of the privatization agreements that brought Philip Morris, 
British-American Tobacco and Japan Tobacco Inc. (JTI) to 
Serbia. (see reftel) Industry representatives expressed 
satisfaction with the strategy and the level of cooperation 
with the GoS. END SUMMARY. 
 
FOUR MAIN PRINCIPLES 
-------------------- 
2.  (U) In a press conference, Minister of Economy Predrag 
Bubalo said that the action plan is based on four 
principles: 1) equal treatment for all participants at the 
domestic and regional tobacco market; 2) long-term 
certainty for the development of tobacco industry 
capacities; 3) stability of budget revenues from excise 
taxes on tobacco products and a transparent system of 
taxes; and 4) adjustment of national legislation to comply 
with EU and World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. 
 
3. (U) Milan Parivodic, Minister of International Economic 
Relations (MIER) and Coordinator of the Ministry of 
Finance, explained that this document, which will be 
applied from 2008 to 2012, regulates relations to the 
mutual benefit of both the state and the tobacco industry. 
He stressed the importance of the four leading tobacco 
companies in Serbia: Philip Morris International, British 
American Tobacco, Japan Tobacco International, and domestic 
investor Monus.  The four cigarette producers together have 
invested more than EUR 1 billion in Serbia since 2003.  In 
addition, the industry employs some 130,000 people, or 
about 6 percent of overall employment. 
 
4. (U) Parivodic said that the action plan takes into 
account the new reality of CEFTA and adjusts the entire 
relationship between the state and the tobacco indust. 
Implementing its provisions requires that Parliament ratify 
CEFTA, amend the excise tax law and amend the tobacco law. 
The minister said that its provisions will maintain excise 
tax revenues, increase exports of tobacco products, and 
provide incentives to agricultural producers to improve the 
quality of tobacco, which is more important than simply 
increasing volume.  (Note: the excise tax unification will 
take effect only on January 1, 2008) 
 
NEW MEASURES 
------------ 
5.  (SBU) Vlatko Sekulovic, state secretary at MIER, said 
that the action plan would abolish discriminatory excise 
taxes, providing the same treatment to domestic and foreign 
cigarette brands by introducing a single excise tax.  He 
added that customs duties will be increased from 15 to 57.6 
percent on cigarette imports from countries outside CEFTA 
and Russia, and it is expected that this change will 
increase budget revenues by EUR 13 million.  (Eugenio 
Sidoli, PMI country director, said that the EU had 
informally agreed to the tariff hike.) 
 
6. (SBU) Sidoli told econ chief on March 28 that the excise 
tax changes will provide much more revenue to the GOS over 
time, but at the same time will help industry by shifting 
the burden more from the ad-valorem (percentage) excise to 
per-pack, specific excises.  This reduces the incentive for 
producers to cut prices by gain market share. 
 
7. (U) Vesna Arsic, State Secretary at the Ministry of 
Finance, said that the plan includes a measure that will 
provide incentives to cigarette producers for purchases of 
domestic tobacco.  She said that the current obligation for 
domestic cigarette manufacturers to buy at least 50 percent 
of their tobacco from domestic producers will be cut to 20 
percent this year and phased out as of January, 2008.  At 
the same time, companies will be able to import, duty-free, 
a volume of tobacco equal to that procured in Serbia. 
Arsic said that the GOS will implement agricultural 
measures to encourage production of the necessary types of 
tobacco, with the aim of increasing the quality and 
competitiveness of domestic tobacco and creating conditions 
for exports based on domestic tobacco. 
 
CIGARETTE PRODUCERS PLEASED WITH THE PLAN 
---------------------------------------- 
8.  (SBU) Representatives of the Philip Morris 
International (PMI), British American Tobacco, Japan 
Tobacco International, and domestic investor Monus support 
the plan.  "Once implemented, the action plan will 
transform CEFTA from a threat into a business opportunity 
for domestic cigarette manufacturing, enabling the 
consolidation of domestic volumes and the development of 
exports," said Sidoli, at the press March 23 conference, 
praising the government for its cooperative stance.  He 
added that the plan would introduce additional costs for 
the industry, but it represented an acceptable compromise. 
Sidoli told econ chief later that the plan, once 
implemented, will create enough predictability for PMI to 
continue investing in Serbia. 
 
PLATFORM FOR THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CROATIA 
------------------------------------------ 
9.  (U) Minister Parivodic said that Serbia would use the 
action plan as a platform in negotiations with Croatia 
within CEFTA over cigarette trade.  He complained that 
Croatia has higher tariffs on cigarette imports from Serbia 
than on EU products, and various non-tariff barriers, 
together with the non-transparent system of excise taxes, 
effectively create a monopoly for domestic producer 
Tvornica Duhana Rovinj (TDR) in the Croatian market. 
 
POLT