KOSOVO: SWISS TO SUPPORT AHTISAARI

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERN 000270 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2017 TAGS: PREL KPKO SZ SUBJECT: KOSOVO: SWISS TO SUPPORT AHTISAARI REF: SECSTATE 31810 Classified By: Poloff Eric Lundberg, Reasons 1.4 b/d 1.(SBU) This is an action request. EUR/SCE see para 4. 2.(C) Switzerland agrees that there should be no delay in defining Kosovo's final status. In a March 9 meeting at Zurich Airport with EUR Assistant Secretary Dan Fried and Ambassador Coneway, Swiss State Secretary Michael Ambuehl said that Bern had long recognized that independence was the only feasible option for Kosovo, provided adequate protections were built in for Serb and other minorities. Ambuehl agreed that delay would only favor the hardliners on both sides. 3.(C) Welcoming Ambuehl's assessment, Dan Fried encouraged the Swiss to offer their vocal support once UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari releases his report in the late March/early April timeframe. Ambuehl offered to issue this support at whatever time the USG thought most helpful. A/S Fried recommended that the GOS work with EUR/SCE director Chris Hoh, via the Embassy, to coordinate a Swiss statement. 4.(C) Action Request: The Swiss DFA would welcome advice from EUR/SCE as to the ideal timing of a Swiss statement in support of Martti Ahtisaari's upcoming report. Embassy Bern is pleased to assist. CONEWAY