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From Alliance for New Kosovo June Newsletter:

Serbian Group Hires Washington Lobbyist
As final status talks are set to begin this summer, virtually all informed American and European observers are expecting independence for Kosovo by year-end. However, at least one unidentified Serbian group, calling itself Serbian National Council of Kosovo and Metohija, is contesting the decision to the end.

According to B92 radio broadcast from Belgrade, the group has hired a Washington, D.C. law and lobbying firm Venable, LLP, to seek support for Serbian interests in the U.S. The one-page contract was filed with the U.S. Department of Justice as part of a Foreign Agents Registration Act notice.

The firm is to receive $600,000 over a six-month period on a contract that runs into autumn, with an additional $100,000 for every month the contract is extended. The contract was signed by Venable official James Jatras, who testified for the defense at Slobodan Milosevic's war crimes trial at The Hague.

Venable has sub-contracted with public relations firm Global Strategic Communications Group (GSCG) to provide publicity services such as placing paid media, assisting in writing policy statements, and working on op-ed and editorial placement. The Venable firm will also run an American "policy council" for its Serbian client.