ROMANIA AGREES THAT KOSOVO IS NOT A PRECEDENT FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 001666 SIPDIS SIPDIS BELGRADE PLEASE PASS TO PRISTINA E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2016 TAGS: PBTS PREL SR RO SUBJECT: ROMANIA AGREES THAT KOSOVO IS NOT A PRECEDENT FOR OTHER CONFLICTS REF: SECSTATE 179829 Classified By: Political Counselor Ted Tanoue; Reasons 1.4(B) and (D). ¶1. (C) Deputy Political Chief October 30 raised reftel points with MFA Director for Western Balkan and Regional Cooperation Raluca-Irina Zidaru, and sought elaboration of the Romanian position regarding Kosovo. Zidaru agreed that Kosovo is not a precedent for the reasons outlined in the demarche. However, she noted that the MFA is also concerned that the "no-precedent" argument is irrelevant unless Moscow and the separatist movements in the frozen conflicts also agree. The MFA does not want the Russian Federation to use the Kosovo-as-precedent argument to shift the balance of forces in the frozen conflicts to Moscow's favor. Though Zidaru noted that the "no - precedent" arguments were not sufficient to address Romania's concern about wider potential for instability in the Black Sea region, she also noted that Russia recently asked for assistance in persuading the Abkazians that Kosovo is not a precedent. Zidaru said that the MFA is puzzled by this Russian request since it is so uncharacteristic of Russian-Romanian relations. ¶2. (C) Comment: Romania looks closely at the Kosovo's status issue in part in terms of the impact a settlement might have on the Moldovan-Transnistran conflict. Romania also weighs the status issue in terms of its potential impact on Serbia, with whom Romania traditionally has had good-neighborly relations. That said, Romania will continue to support the consensus of the international community--especially within NATO and the EU--with respect to Kosovo. We will also take advantage of other appropriate opportunities with GOR officials to emphasize reftel points. End Comment. Taubman