Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07OTTAWA2266
2007-12-14 21:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ottawa
how-toVZCZCXRO4780 OO RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHQU RUEHVC DE RUEHOT #2266 3482105 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 142105Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7033 INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 0025 RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN PRIORITY 1699 RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO PRIORITY 0011 RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA PRIORITY 0077 RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB PRIORITY 0221 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY 0615 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0856 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0105 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0359
C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 002266
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY//////////REF A Corrected///////////////////////
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV YI CA
SUBJECT: CANADA ON KOSOVO
REF: A. STATE 165486
B. STATE 165453
Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 002266
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY//////////REF A Corrected///////////////////////
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV YI CA
SUBJECT: CANADA ON KOSOVO
REF: A. STATE 165486
B. STATE 165453
Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) According to Department of Foreign Affairs Director
General for Central, East, and Southern Europe Robert Hage,
Canada will not be among either the first or the last to
recognize Kosovo following a unilateral declaration of
independence. While the government has not yet reached a
formal decision, this will be his recommendation to Foreign
Minister Bernier in the coming days, which he fully expects
Bernier to accept. He noted Prime Minister's personal
interest in this issue.
2. (C) In a meeting with PolMinCouns on December 14, Hage
underscored that Canada's hope all along had been for a
negotiated solution, while acknowledging that at present
there was only at best a "slim prospect" that this could
still happen if the UN Security Council decided on December
19 to take further action (while admitting this also seemed
unlikely). He noted the arguments that this situation was
indeed sui generis, but commented that inevitably it would
set a precedent of kinds. He highlighted that, in Canada,
there were special domestic concerns on this issue, even
though the situation of Quebec was entirely dissimilar. He
predicted that the international community would continue to
play an important role in Kosovo for the foreseeable future
and that a new pledging conference was inevitable.
3. (C) Canada is now grappling with how it will eventually
cover Kosovo diplomatically, since there are no DFAIT
officials in Pristina nor any plans to open an office,
according to Hage. The Canadian Ambassador in Belgrade is
eager to handle, but Canada doubts that the Serbs will allow
this. He predicted difficulties in Kosovo's admission into
the UN and the OSCE, or even into international financial
institutions, due to Russian and Serb opposition.
4. (C) Hage added that Minister Bernier will be prepared to
explain Canada's position on Kosovo to Secretary Rice on an
if asked basis during their meeting on December 20, but does
not plan to raise himself.
Visit our shared North American Partnership blog (Canada & Mexico) at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap
WILKINS
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY//////////REF A Corrected///////////////////////
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV YI CA
SUBJECT: CANADA ON KOSOVO
REF: A. STATE 165486
B. STATE 165453
Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) According to Department of Foreign Affairs Director
General for Central, East, and Southern Europe Robert Hage,
Canada will not be among either the first or the last to
recognize Kosovo following a unilateral declaration of
independence. While the government has not yet reached a
formal decision, this will be his recommendation to Foreign
Minister Bernier in the coming days, which he fully expects
Bernier to accept. He noted Prime Minister's personal
interest in this issue.
2. (C) In a meeting with PolMinCouns on December 14, Hage
underscored that Canada's hope all along had been for a
negotiated solution, while acknowledging that at present
there was only at best a "slim prospect" that this could
still happen if the UN Security Council decided on December
19 to take further action (while admitting this also seemed
unlikely). He noted the arguments that this situation was
indeed sui generis, but commented that inevitably it would
set a precedent of kinds. He highlighted that, in Canada,
there were special domestic concerns on this issue, even
though the situation of Quebec was entirely dissimilar. He
predicted that the international community would continue to
play an important role in Kosovo for the foreseeable future
and that a new pledging conference was inevitable.
3. (C) Canada is now grappling with how it will eventually
cover Kosovo diplomatically, since there are no DFAIT
officials in Pristina nor any plans to open an office,
according to Hage. The Canadian Ambassador in Belgrade is
eager to handle, but Canada doubts that the Serbs will allow
this. He predicted difficulties in Kosovo's admission into
the UN and the OSCE, or even into international financial
institutions, due to Russian and Serb opposition.
4. (C) Hage added that Minister Bernier will be prepared to
explain Canada's position on Kosovo to Secretary Rice on an
if asked basis during their meeting on December 20, but does
not plan to raise himself.
Visit our shared North American Partnership blog (Canada & Mexico) at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap
WILKINS