ITALIAN SUPPORT FOR USG STATEMENT ON KOSOVO PM

UNCLAS ROME 000807 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV SR YI KAWX ICTY SUBJECT: ITALIAN SUPPORT FOR USG STATEMENT ON KOSOVO PM HARADINAJ ICTY INDICTMENT REF: STATE 39938 ¶1. (SBU) MFA Balkans Office Director Raimondo De Cardona told poloff March 7 that the elements of the US statement on Kosovo PM Haradinaj's resignation contained were excellent. He was in the process of drafting Italy's statement, and would have liked to have followed our lead and been more direct in Italy's call for Haradinaj himself to urge calm in the wake of the resignation, but was "coordinating his statement with European partners." ¶2. (U) Text of Italy's statement as released: Kosovar Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj resigns 8 March 2005 - Appreciation has been expressed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the decision by the Prime Minister of the Provisional Institutions for Self-government of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, to hand in immediately his resignation following the formal charges against him announced today by the war crimes Tribunal in The Hague. Haradinaj's decision is a positive indicator of a sense of responsibility. It will contribute, in this particularly challenging moment, in helping to maintain a climate of stability which is of fundamental importance so that the upcoming delicate deadlines set for Kosovo by the international community can be met with success. The Italian side places its trust, especially in this context, in the responsibility and maturity of the Kosovar population, which has the future of Kosovo in its hands. Italy is looking with confidence therefore to the deadlines regarding the examination of the internal situation and the standards scheduled for next summer, and to the subsequent general considerations on the future of Kosovo. Over and above the decisions that will be adopted following the initiative of the Hague Tribunal, the government needs to be able to pursue its activities with the necessary energy and efficiency, thanks to the support of all political forces with a democratic vocation in Kosovo. The joint commitment to persevere with determination and responsibility in the work initiated by the Haradinaj government in a spirit of widespread unity and solidarity, must constitute more than ever today the guiding principle for the actions of the Kosovar institutions, and this in order to strengthen the region's European prospects. The Italian government will continue to provide its convinced support in this matter. End Text. SEMBLER NNNN 2005ROME00807 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED