Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRUSSELS1268
2007-04-16 13:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
BELGIUM: ASSESSMENT ON KOSOVO UNSCR
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHBS #1268 1061305 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 161305Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5103 INFO RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE IMMEDIATE 0099 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 7927 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0196 RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA IMMEDIATE 0097
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001268
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2017
TAGS: EU PGOV PREL RS UNMIK UNSC YI BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: ASSESSMENT ON KOSOVO UNSCR
REF: STATE 49723
Classified By: POLCOUNS TED ANDREWS. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001268
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2017
TAGS: EU PGOV PREL RS UNMIK UNSC YI BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: ASSESSMENT ON KOSOVO UNSCR
REF: STATE 49723
Classified By: POLCOUNS TED ANDREWS. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) Embassy spoke April 16 with Thomas Antoine, the
Belgian MFA's Director for the Balkans. Antoine said Russian
Ambassador Lukov met with MFA officials two weeks ago to
discuss Kosovo. Antoine indicated there was no lobbying, but
Lukov did discuss Russian concerns about the proposals on
Kosovo. Antoine said there were "no surprises" and the
meeting led him to believe a "soft no from Belgrade" was
coming on the proposals. According to Antoine, Belgian
officials tried to urge more flexibility, indicating to Lukov
the consequences for regional stability would be worse
without the Ahtisaari plan or a UN resolution.
2. (C) Antoine reiterated his own preference for a longer
timeline, but said Belgium would support a resolution
affirming the Ahtisaari plan, calling Ahtisaari's proposal
the "lesser evil." He thought attempts should be made to
assuage Belgrade's fears, but noted the long term priority
was for Serbia and Kosovo to exist together peacefully.
3. (SBU) Belgian Ambassador to the UN Verbeke will
reportedly lead a UNSC mission to Kosovo at the end of April.
The trip, scheduled for April 25 to 27, will include stops
in Brussels, Belgrade, and Pristina.
IMBRIE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2017
TAGS: EU PGOV PREL RS UNMIK UNSC YI BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: ASSESSMENT ON KOSOVO UNSCR
REF: STATE 49723
Classified By: POLCOUNS TED ANDREWS. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) Embassy spoke April 16 with Thomas Antoine, the
Belgian MFA's Director for the Balkans. Antoine said Russian
Ambassador Lukov met with MFA officials two weeks ago to
discuss Kosovo. Antoine indicated there was no lobbying, but
Lukov did discuss Russian concerns about the proposals on
Kosovo. Antoine said there were "no surprises" and the
meeting led him to believe a "soft no from Belgrade" was
coming on the proposals. According to Antoine, Belgian
officials tried to urge more flexibility, indicating to Lukov
the consequences for regional stability would be worse
without the Ahtisaari plan or a UN resolution.
2. (C) Antoine reiterated his own preference for a longer
timeline, but said Belgium would support a resolution
affirming the Ahtisaari plan, calling Ahtisaari's proposal
the "lesser evil." He thought attempts should be made to
assuage Belgrade's fears, but noted the long term priority
was for Serbia and Kosovo to exist together peacefully.
3. (SBU) Belgian Ambassador to the UN Verbeke will
reportedly lead a UNSC mission to Kosovo at the end of April.
The trip, scheduled for April 25 to 27, will include stops
in Brussels, Belgrade, and Pristina.
IMBRIE