SLOVENIA STEADFAST IN SUPPORTING AHTISAARI

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000208 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV UNMIK UN YI EUN SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA STEADFAST IN SUPPORTING AHTISAARI REF: SECSTATE 37835 Classified By: COM Thomas B. Robertson for reason 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) Leon Marc, Head of the MFA's Division for South-Eastern Europe confirmed Slovenia's consistent support for UN Special Envoy Maarti Ahtisaari's Kosovo proposal in a March 28 meeting with PolEcon Chief. He said that the GOS would continue to be reserved in its public declarations in support of full Kosovo independence citing well-known sensitivities in its bilateral relationship with Serbia. Nevertheless, on the margins of the March 30-31 Gymnich, FM Rupel told the press that Slovenia fully supports Ahtisaari's proposal, but the final stage of resolving Kosovo's status also sees "some EU member states highlighting the need for patience." He summed up the EU Foreign Ministers position by saying "We support Ahtisaari's efforts, Serbia and a European future for the Western Balkans." ¶2. (C) Marc said the Ahtisaari plan would require Kosovo to show "maturity" in its attitude towards minorities and that the GOS expects Serbs to take part in the institutions of Kosovo, and to avoid "destabilizing" actions. The GOS would continue to reinforce these messages with both sides. ¶3. (C) Looking down the road, Marc said attention to Kosovo's economic stability and growth would be critical and it would be important to set Kosovo on "some EU track," even if it was only symbolic. He added that Slovenia would favor re-opening SAA talks with Serbia sooner rather than later, but that Serbia did have a lot of homework to do. ROBERTSON