PANAMA: KOSOVO DEMARCHE DELIVERED

C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000461 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV UNMIK UNSC UN YI EU PM SUBJECT: PANAMA: KOSOVO DEMARCHE DELIVERED REF: STATE 37835 Classified By: Ambassador William A. Eaton. Reason: 1.4 (d) -------------- Panama Supports Ahtisaari's Recommendations -------------- ¶1. (C) Supportive of UN Special Envoy for Kosovo Ahtisaari's recommendations, Panama was engaging Russia to avoid a Russian veto and secure adoption of a UN Security Council Resolution that supported Ahtisaari's recommendations, including his proposal for Kosovo's supervised independence, Panamanian First VP and FM Samuel told Ambassador on March ¶26. Anticipating that Ambassador was reaching out to him to deliver reftel demarche, Lewis noted that the key was avoiding a Russian veto, an achievable goal in Lewis' opinion. Lewis said he had already spoken with Panamanian PermRep to the UN Arias and underscored the importance of working toward the adoption of an UNSCR supportive of Ahtisaari's recommendations. Arias believed progress was being made with the Russians in New York, Lewis said, and, though Russia might not support this resolution, a Russian veto might be avoided. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶2. (C) Panama is not overly concerned about the substance of Kosovo's final status. Understanding the importance that the U.S. and Europeans place on adoption of an UNSCR on Kosovo, Panama will focus on procedural matters -- primarily trying to avoid a Russian veto -- and ensuring a broaden enough consensus to which Panama can contribute its support. EATON