TURKEY ON KOSOVO: SUPPORT AHTISAARI PLAN; HOPE TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000710 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV UNMIK UN YI TU SUBJECT: TURKEY ON KOSOVO: SUPPORT AHTISAARI PLAN; HOPE TO PARTICIPATE IN CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATION REF: A. STATE 37835 ¶B. ANKARA 89 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: CDA Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Turkey continues to support UN Special Envoy Ahtisaari's plan, including his recommendation that Kosovo become independent. We delivered ref a points March 27 to MFA Balkans Department Head Ilhan Saygili, who reiterated Turkey's long-standing position (reported ref b) in support of the process Ahtisaari and the Contact Group have mapped out to solve the Kosovo problem. Saygili said the GOT remains concerned, however, about Russian intentions to veto a follow-on UN Security Council resolution to UNSCR 1244, the possibility of a unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovar Albanians should such a veto occur, and what follows thereafter. He also worried aloud whether the EU will remain united behind Ahtisaari's report, specifically citing reports he had seen questioning the support of Cyprus and Slovakia. We noted both of these governments had indicated an intention to follow EU consensus on the issue. ¶2. (C) Pointing to the ongoing debate regarding Kosovo in some European capitals, however, we emphasized the need for strong, unified support from the EU and others like Turkey for Ahtisaari's recommendations and a Security Council resolution approving them. Saygili said the GOT also shares the USG's strong desire that the European Union in particular do all it can to help alleviate Serbia's "wounds" by moving as soon as possible to open negotiations on a stabilization and association agreement with it, as well as to provide needed economic assistance. Saygili indicated that Turkey would remain in close touch with the EU and us and would associate itself with any EU statement on Ahtisaari's recommendations. ¶3. (C) As a contributing country to UNMIK, Saygili also underscored the GOT's desire to remain engaged in Kosovo by contributing personnel to the International Civilian Office and by participating in the International Steering Group that would be established should a new UNSCR be adopted. Saygili argued that Turkey has played a useful role in similar institutions in Bosnia and believes it could make a useful contribution in Kosovo as well. He noted Turkish officials have raised this already in Washington (as well as in Berlin and Brussels). Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ MCELDOWNEY