QATARIS WILL SUPPORT KOSOVO RESOLUTION ON PRINCIPLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000439

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2017
TAGS: PREL UNSC XH QA
SUBJECT: QATARIS WILL SUPPORT KOSOVO RESOLUTION ON PRINCIPLE

REF: DOHA 386

Derived from: DSCG 05-1, B,D.


1. (C) Summary. Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
told S/R Frank Wisner that Qatar "will support the same
position you support" on Kosovo. He appreciated consultation
on the matter. He said a Serbian envoy had tried to convince
him to back a "middle way" -- but the Qataris were not
swayed. The Qataris wondered how to overcome Russian
opposition in the Security Council. The MFA's Assistant
Minister suggested "listening" to Russia on the frozen
conflicts on its periphery. End Summary.


2. (C) Special Representative for Kosovo Final Status Issues
Ambassador Frank Wisner told Qatar's Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Al Mahmoud, in their meeting April 29
that Kosovo will become independent. The question was whether
this would occur in an orderly manner, as envisioned in UN
Sepcial Envoy Ahtisaari's proposal, or more chaotically.
Under the Ahtisaari plan, minorities would be protected and a
system would allow for the return of refugees. "There is no
way for Kosovo to return to Serbian sovereignty," Wisner
said. On behalf of the Secretary, Wisner thanked Al Mahmoud
for Qatar's support on this issue in the UN Security Council.


3. (C) Al Mahmoud characterized the U.S. position on Kosovo
over the years as "very respectable -- we will never forget
it." Our "duty" now is to help Kosovo achieve independence
the "proper" way. "In the end our position will be clear," he
said. "We will support the same cause you support."


4. (C) Al Mahmoud noted that he had recently met an envoy
from Serbia who claimed that Russia, China, and Indonesia
support Serbia's position. The GOQ doubted China was in that
category, however. The Serbian envoy had tried to sell a
"middle way." According to Al Mahmoud's account, he told the
Serb such a path was "untenable" and tried to convince him
that acceptance of independence, as the Indonesians had done
in the case of East Timor, was the better way. Ambassador
Wisner answered that if there was any hope of a middle way,
Ahtisaari would have found it.


5. (C) Al Mahmoud recounted how the Serbian president told
Qatar's Ambassador to Belgrade, who was presenting his
credentials, that Serbia would not use military force against
Kosovo if the UNSC supports independence. Ambassador Wisner
agreed that Serbia did not intend to involve its army and
police, but rogue elements or extra-governmental groups
remained a danger.


6. (C) Ambassador Wisner explained that Kosovo's day of
independence would be just the starting point for the new
nation. It would need international recognition and economic
assistance. He said the United States looks forward to
working closely with Qatar on these priorities, and welcomed
engagement through our missions at the UN.


7. (C) Ambassador Wisner had met the previous day (April 28)
with Mohamed al-Rumaihi, Assistant Minister for Follow-Up
Affairs at the MFA and holder of the UN portfolio, and the
Qatari Permanent Representative to the UN, Nasser al-Nasser,
over luncheon.


8. (C) Rumaihi, who had a detailed knowledge of the issue,
said that the GOQ held Ahtisaari in high regard and believed
him to be entirely fair. He suggested some steps that would
entice Serbia to accept the outcome of a UNSC resolution,
such as: help fulfilling conditions for EU membership, an
arrangement with the European states to offer a Schengen
"free pass" visa to Serbs, and a plan to ensure that Serbs in
Kosovo were well-protected.


9. (C) Rumaihi said that though under some pressure from
Islamic states, Qatar did not look at Kosovo as an Islamic
issue. Rather, it was a question of natural rights. He said
that an endorsement by the Organization of the Islamic
Conference at its mid-May meeting in Islamabad would be
helpful, particularly to the Indonesians. Rumaihi suggested
that Pakistan or Egypt propose language to the OIC on
supporting independence for Kosovo, and encouraged U.S.
engagement with Pakistan in the run-up to the conference.


10. (C) "How to satisfy Russia?" Rumaihi wondered. This would
be hard for Qatar; "the Five Permanent members must do it,"
he said. The GOQ believes that Russia "needs to be listened
to" on dormant conflicts on its periphery. Al-Nasser
predicted that Russia would not veto a Security Council
resolution. But the question of how Russia would "save face"
remained.


11. (C) Ambassador Wisner said that the U.S. appreciates
Qatar's support. The U.S. will seek a resolution early in May
and will seek to work with Russia toward a successful
resolution. "If we fail, we will talk to you about containing
the violence," he said. But it was Washington's aim to do
everything possible to prepare Kosovo for its independence.
Ratney