Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SKOPJE837
2006-09-04 14:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Skopje
Cable title:  

MACEDONIA: FOREIGN MINISTER-DESIGNATE ON KOSOVO

Tags:  PREL PGOV MK KS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4214
RR RUEHAST
DE RUEHSQ #0837 2471458
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041458Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY SKOPJE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5119
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SKOPJE 000837 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/SCE PFEUFFER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MK KS
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: FOREIGN MINISTER-DESIGNATE ON KOSOVO
POLICY, BORDER DEMARCATION

REF: STATE 136492

UNCLAS SKOPJE 000837

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/SCE PFEUFFER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MK KS
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: FOREIGN MINISTER-DESIGNATE ON KOSOVO
POLICY, BORDER DEMARCATION

REF: STATE 136492


1. (SBU) P/E Chief delivered reftel points on Kosovo status
negotiations to Foreign Minister-designate Antonijo Milososki
on August 23. (NOTE: Milososki and his fellow cabinet members
were confirmed in office following a parliamentary vote on
August 26). Milososki agreed strongly with the point on "no
partition of Kosovo." He stated that Macedonia would be
among the first countries to recognize an independent Kosovo,
which he said the GOM would expect to contribute to
strengthening rule of law and stability in the region. On
border demarcation, Milososki said the government would be
satisfied to see the issue "resolved in the context of" a
final status agreement.


2. (SBU) In a press interview published in the Macedonian
daily "Dnevnik" on August 29, Milososki expanded on his
earlier comments on Kosovo. He told the daily that Macedonia
only would seek to play a supporting role in the final status
process. The border demarcation issue would give Pristina a
chance to demonstrate the political will to contribute to
regional stability, a precondition of which would be respect
for existing internationally-recognized borders. He
acknowledged that Macedonia was in no position now to take a
position demanding demarcation before final status.
Macedonia would be satisfied, he said, if demarcation of the
border would be a part of a final status agreement.


3. (SBU) COMMENT: The new GOM's stance on border demarcation
marks a shift away from the previous government's more
insistent position demanding demarcation before final status.
In addition, it reflects to a large extent the USG position
on demarcation that we have been pressing for the last two
years. If Milososki is able to make that position stick, we
can expect that the GOM will stay away from publicly putting
demarcation on the front burner in its relations with Kosovo.
At the same time, we believe it would be useful for the USG
to begin considering how to ensure that demarcation is, in
fact, included in a final status agreement. Failure to
include demarcation, which is Macedonia's only true redline
on Kosovo final status, would prompt strong objections from
the GOM. END COMMENT.
WOHLERS