Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRUSSELS215
2007-01-22 16:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
BELGIUM: DEMARCHE ON KOSOVO STATUS PROCESS TIMELINE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0024 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHBS #0215 0221635 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 221635Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 7761 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0175 RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4148
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000215
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2017
TAGS: PREL UN UNMIK PGOV YI EU OPDC BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: DEMARCHE ON KOSOVO STATUS PROCESS TIMELINE
REF: STATE 5652
Classified By: POLCOUNS TED ANDREWS. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000215
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2017
TAGS: PREL UN UNMIK PGOV YI EU OPDC BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: DEMARCHE ON KOSOVO STATUS PROCESS TIMELINE
REF: STATE 5652
Classified By: POLCOUNS TED ANDREWS. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) Ambassador Korologos spoke with Belgian Foreign
Minister DeGucht January 19 to urge support for UN Special
Envoy Martti Ahtisaari's plans and timeline for concluding
the Kosovo future status process (reftel). DeGucht was
receptive to our arguments and expressed support for
Ahtisaari.
2. (C) FM DeGucht said there will be a "great deal of
consultation among the EU" on Kosovo. While excluding
Belgium from this category, he noted that some countries,
such as Spain, believe full independence for Kosovo will have
a negative internal domestic impact. DeGucht said it was
difficult to comment fully without having seen the proposal,
but "seminally we are going to be for Ahtisaari's plans." He
indicated he had told Congressman Wexler during his January
15 visit to Brussels the OSCE does not like "dictated
borders." DeGucht was, however, very positive about his
support for Ahtisaari.
3. (C) Comment: DeGucht's support for UN Special Envoy
Ahtisaari was much stronger than that offered by his "Kosovo
experts." Thomas Antoine, the MFA's Director for the
Balkans, said January 18 that while Belgium "supports
Ahtisaari's efforts," there was concern about "forcing" a
specific timeline and about what an independent Kosovo might
do to regional stability. He also thought Ahtisaari should
wait "a reasonable time" to present his proposal to the
parties after a Serb government is in place. (Antoine did
express strong support for KFOR.)
4. (C) DeGucht, of course, is the best gauge of Belgian
support. He is fully cognizant that some European nations
are concerned about what an independent Kosovo will mean, but
did not put Belgium in the category of countries that want to
impede a final resolution.
KOROLOGOS
.
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2017
TAGS: PREL UN UNMIK PGOV YI EU OPDC BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: DEMARCHE ON KOSOVO STATUS PROCESS TIMELINE
REF: STATE 5652
Classified By: POLCOUNS TED ANDREWS. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) Ambassador Korologos spoke with Belgian Foreign
Minister DeGucht January 19 to urge support for UN Special
Envoy Martti Ahtisaari's plans and timeline for concluding
the Kosovo future status process (reftel). DeGucht was
receptive to our arguments and expressed support for
Ahtisaari.
2. (C) FM DeGucht said there will be a "great deal of
consultation among the EU" on Kosovo. While excluding
Belgium from this category, he noted that some countries,
such as Spain, believe full independence for Kosovo will have
a negative internal domestic impact. DeGucht said it was
difficult to comment fully without having seen the proposal,
but "seminally we are going to be for Ahtisaari's plans." He
indicated he had told Congressman Wexler during his January
15 visit to Brussels the OSCE does not like "dictated
borders." DeGucht was, however, very positive about his
support for Ahtisaari.
3. (C) Comment: DeGucht's support for UN Special Envoy
Ahtisaari was much stronger than that offered by his "Kosovo
experts." Thomas Antoine, the MFA's Director for the
Balkans, said January 18 that while Belgium "supports
Ahtisaari's efforts," there was concern about "forcing" a
specific timeline and about what an independent Kosovo might
do to regional stability. He also thought Ahtisaari should
wait "a reasonable time" to present his proposal to the
parties after a Serb government is in place. (Antoine did
express strong support for KFOR.)
4. (C) DeGucht, of course, is the best gauge of Belgian
support. He is fully cognizant that some European nations
are concerned about what an independent Kosovo will mean, but
did not put Belgium in the category of countries that want to
impede a final resolution.
KOROLOGOS
.