Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07HELSINKI381
2007-05-23 13:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Helsinki
Cable title:
FINNS PESSIMISTIC ABOUT RUSSIAN RESPONSE TO UNSCR
how-toVZCZCXYZ0004 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHHE #0381 1431341 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 231341Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3380 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0031 RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN 1118 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 4777 RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA 0032
C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000381
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV YI FI
SUBJECT: FINNS PESSIMISTIC ABOUT RUSSIAN RESPONSE TO UNSCR
ON KOSOVO
REF: STATE 64975
Classified By: PolChief Greg Thome, Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000381
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV YI FI
SUBJECT: FINNS PESSIMISTIC ABOUT RUSSIAN RESPONSE TO UNSCR
ON KOSOVO
REF: STATE 64975
Classified By: PolChief Greg Thome, Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Finland firmly supports UN Special Envoy
Ahtisaari's proposals for Kosovo's final status and welcomes
the draft UNSCR that the US circulated May 11. However, the
Finns continue to pick up signals that leave them pessimistic
about how Russia will respond. The GOF is engaged in its own
quiet diplomacy to shore up EU unity on Kosovo, and will host
President Tadic in Helsinki June 2. End Summary.
2. (C) In a follow-up to subject demarche, PolChief discussed
the latest actions in the UNSC on Kosovo and the draft
resolution that was circulated May 11 with Finnish MFA
Balkans Office Director Juha Ottman. Finland remains
staunchly supportive of UN Special Envoy (and former Finnish
President) Martti Ahtisaari's proposals, including his
recommendations on independence for Kosovo. Finland welcomed
the draft UNSCR that the US and European UNSC members had
circulated May 11, and was particularly pleased with the
draft's endorsement of the Ahtisaari Settlement. (Germany
had shared the UNSCR draft with Finland.)
3. (C) While the GOF remains fully supportive, it is growing
increasingly pessimistic about how Russia will respond.
According to Ottman, Germany told EU partners following the
EU-Russia Summit that the GOR had "warned that the EU is
being way too optimistic" about independence for Kosovo,
which remains an absolute red line for Moscow. In bilateral
conversations, the Russians have suggested that they may seek
a UNSCR that does little more than disband the UNMIK Mission
and replace it with the EU. Russia would be "perfectly happy
to just rewrite UNSCR 1244, removing the word 'UNMIK' and
putting in 'EU'," Ottman reported. From Finland's national
perspective, any watered-down resolution that stops short of
"fully endorsing" Ahtisaari's proposals would be
"unacceptable," not least because it would put the EU Rule of
Law mission in an "untenable" position.
4. (C) Despite Russia's hard line, the GOF continues to play
a quiet leadership role to try to shore up EU unity behind
Ahtisaari and our UNSCR draft. In addition, Ottman noted
that President Tadic will visit Helsinki June 2 for talks
with President Tarja Halonen, FM Ilkka Kanerva and Finnish EU
Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn. The excuse for the
visit is a soccer match between Finland and Serbia, but Rehn
and the GOF will use the opportunity to address Kosovo, ICTY
cooperation and the range of related issues.
HYATT
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV YI FI
SUBJECT: FINNS PESSIMISTIC ABOUT RUSSIAN RESPONSE TO UNSCR
ON KOSOVO
REF: STATE 64975
Classified By: PolChief Greg Thome, Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Finland firmly supports UN Special Envoy
Ahtisaari's proposals for Kosovo's final status and welcomes
the draft UNSCR that the US circulated May 11. However, the
Finns continue to pick up signals that leave them pessimistic
about how Russia will respond. The GOF is engaged in its own
quiet diplomacy to shore up EU unity on Kosovo, and will host
President Tadic in Helsinki June 2. End Summary.
2. (C) In a follow-up to subject demarche, PolChief discussed
the latest actions in the UNSC on Kosovo and the draft
resolution that was circulated May 11 with Finnish MFA
Balkans Office Director Juha Ottman. Finland remains
staunchly supportive of UN Special Envoy (and former Finnish
President) Martti Ahtisaari's proposals, including his
recommendations on independence for Kosovo. Finland welcomed
the draft UNSCR that the US and European UNSC members had
circulated May 11, and was particularly pleased with the
draft's endorsement of the Ahtisaari Settlement. (Germany
had shared the UNSCR draft with Finland.)
3. (C) While the GOF remains fully supportive, it is growing
increasingly pessimistic about how Russia will respond.
According to Ottman, Germany told EU partners following the
EU-Russia Summit that the GOR had "warned that the EU is
being way too optimistic" about independence for Kosovo,
which remains an absolute red line for Moscow. In bilateral
conversations, the Russians have suggested that they may seek
a UNSCR that does little more than disband the UNMIK Mission
and replace it with the EU. Russia would be "perfectly happy
to just rewrite UNSCR 1244, removing the word 'UNMIK' and
putting in 'EU'," Ottman reported. From Finland's national
perspective, any watered-down resolution that stops short of
"fully endorsing" Ahtisaari's proposals would be
"unacceptable," not least because it would put the EU Rule of
Law mission in an "untenable" position.
4. (C) Despite Russia's hard line, the GOF continues to play
a quiet leadership role to try to shore up EU unity behind
Ahtisaari and our UNSCR draft. In addition, Ottman noted
that President Tadic will visit Helsinki June 2 for talks
with President Tarja Halonen, FM Ilkka Kanerva and Finnish EU
Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn. The excuse for the
visit is a soccer match between Finland and Serbia, but Rehn
and the GOF will use the opportunity to address Kosovo, ICTY
cooperation and the range of related issues.
HYATT