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.

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2005ROME00807 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED