SPAIN: NEED UNSCR ON KOSOVO; MUST ENGAGE SERBIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000438 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - CHANGED DATE IN PARA 1 SIPDIS EUR/FO FOR A/S DAN FRIED AND DAS KURT VOLKER EUR/SCE FOR SPECIAL ENVOY AMBASSADOR WISNER E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV SP YI SUBJECT: SPAIN: NEED UNSCR ON KOSOVO; MUST ENGAGE SERBIA Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) The DCM met with Spanish Director General for Foreign Policy Rafael Dezcallar on March 2 to discuss his recent visit with Foreign Minister Moratinos to Belgrade and Pristina as Chair-in-Office of the OSCE. The DCM emphasized the need to support the Ahtisaari plan and maintain EU and U.S. unity and coordination on Kosovo. He outlined the reasons why Kosovo is not a precedent for any other European (or Spanish) territorial dispute. He added that Moratinos' comments during the trip were constructive. ¶2. (C) Dezcallar said that Spain is not fully in agreement with the United States over Kosovo and added that there is not internal unity in the EU. However, he said that Spain recognizes the importance of supporting the EU and the U.S. common position on Kosovo, thus Moratinos' active diplomacy on the subject. Spain feels that Kosovar independence could potentially create an imbalance in the regional equilibrium and create instability. He said Spain is not concerned that Kosovo sets a precedent in Spain's own internal territorial disputes, and he added that Moratinos had publicly rejected any comparison between Kosovo and Spain. However, Dezcallar said that final status resolution in Kosovo did present dangers both in the Balkans and in other areas of Europe. Spain feels that there absolutely must be a UNSCR to resolve the question, as any unilateral declaration of independence would be very dangerous for other European territorial disputes. ¶3. (C) Further, Dezcallar said that the international community and the U.S. in particular must reach out to Serbia and work with moderate elements. Moratinos feels that Serbian President Tadic will be the key for Kosovo and is someone with whom the international community can work. Tadic told Moratinos that his three top priorities are cooperation with the ICTY tribunal, accession into the EU, and entry into NATO. Dezcallar said that the U.S. has a large role to play in providing Serbia with incentives and enticements to pull it toward European integration. The U.S. should make a public show of support for him as he attempts to negotiate an EU stabilization agreement and control internal Serbian dissidents. -------------- Visit Embassy Madrid's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/madrid/ -------------- AGUIRRE