KOSOVO: DEMARCHE TO BELGIANS ON NEXT STEPS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 002562 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2017 TAGS: KV YI UN PGOV EU PREL BE SUBJECT: KOSOVO: DEMARCHE TO BELGIANS ON NEXT STEPS REF: A. STATE 109526 ¶B. BRUSSELS 2114 Classified By: ACTING POLCOUNS SHARON BOWMAN. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) Poloff discussed reftel points August 8 with Thomas Antoine, the Belgian MFA's Director for the Balkans. Antoine reiterated Belgium's support for Ahtisaari's recommendations, calling them a good starting point for new talks. While noting that the "aspirations of both parties must be respected," Antoine said Belgium will push Belgrade to move forward in the coming months. He pointed out when Belgian FM De Gucht met with Serbian FM Jeremik in June, De Gucht urged the Serb leadership to adopt a "realistic approach" to Kosovo independence and indicated the international community was ready to act with or without the Serbs (ref B). Antoine recalled De Gucht's statement in July, calling the status quo in Kosovo "unacceptable" and calling for Ahtisaari's proposals to guide European policy. ¶2. (C) Antoine lamented Russia's role, calling Moscow "obstructionist" on the issue. Looking toward December, he thought it would be difficult for the EU to move forward without a new UNSCR, seeing it as the "only way to get the EU on board." IMBRIE .