ITALY BRIEFED ON U.S. KOSOVO POLICY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001230 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV YI EU IT SUBJECT: ITALY BRIEFED ON U.S. KOSOVO POLICY REF: STATE 59894 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor David D. Pearce for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) April 20 Poloff briefed Raimondo de Cardona, MFA Balkans Office Director, and Maria Teresa di Maio, Kosovo Desk Officer, on U.S. Kosovo policy per reftel. De Cardona said it was useful to hear our policy laid out more comprehensively, noting that the GOI was already aware of the various components through its membership in the Contact Group. He said the U.S. and Italy were in sync, although the U.S. was "one step ahead" of Italy in its discussion of independence. Noting that stagnation in determining a final status for Kosovo could lead to a dangerous situation, de Cardona said that Italy wanted to see the process move forward. Di Maio remarked that Italy had been a strong voice within the EU for moving forward on talks with Belgrade, and had pushed for not stopping negotiations in April. SPOGLI