Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KYIV4156
2006-11-01 17:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kyiv
Cable title:  

UKRAINE REMAINS DOUBTFUL THAT KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE

Tags:  PREL SR UP 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6580
PP RUEHDBU
DE RUEHKV #4156 3051728
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 011728Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY KYIV
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0230
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L KYIV 004156 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2016
TAGS: PREL SR UP
SUBJECT: UKRAINE REMAINS DOUBTFUL THAT KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE
WILL NOT SET A PRECEDENT

REF: A. STATE 179829


B. 05 KIEV 5100

Classified By: Acting Pol Counselor George Kent for reasons 1.4(b,d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L KYIV 004156

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2016
TAGS: PREL SR UP
SUBJECT: UKRAINE REMAINS DOUBTFUL THAT KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE
WILL NOT SET A PRECEDENT

REF: A. STATE 179829


B. 05 KIEV 5100

Classified By: Acting Pol Counselor George Kent for reasons 1.4(b,d)


1. (C) Ambassador and FM Tarasyuk discussed Transnistria and
Kosovo, among other issues, October 31 (septel to follow).
Tarasyuk, hewing to the line he has maintained since December
2005 (ref B),said the U.S. line on Kosovo independence not
being a precedent for frozen conflicts such as Transnistria
was weak, "because the Russians will use it as a precedent
regardless." Ukraine wanted to achieve a negotiated
settlement on Transnistria, but Kosovo independence would
undermine that effort.


2. (C) Earlier on October 31, we orally delivered ref A's
talking points to Oleksandr Tsvetkov, Deputy Head of the MFA
Political Department. Echoing Tarasyuk's fears, Tsvetkov
said he had "no doubt" that a move to grant independence to
Kosovo would be viewed as a precedent. He opined that the
"frozen conflicts are to some extent not frozen" and that an
independent Kosovo would be "very threatening to all conflict
zones." Tsvetkov wistfully remarked that the Kosovo problem
could best be solved if the EU were expanded to cover the
entire territory (of Serbia); he recognized such a
development was years away at best.


3. (C) Tsvetkov was interested in details about the period of
transitional international supervision for Kosovo after
independence. He wondered if the transition period would be
fixed and short and if peacekeeping troops would remain. We
replied that details were subject to negotiation but there
was an expectation troops would remain. Tsvetkov opined that
"wrong developments" in Kosovo's security environment would
be bad for the international community.


4. (U) Visit Embassy Kyiv's classified website:
www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/kiev.
Taylor