REQUEST FOR ASSESSMENT OF KOSOVO POSITION

UNCLAS STATE 045355

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
KINSHASA PASS TO BRAZZAVILLE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNSC UNMIK PGOV YI EU
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR ASSESSMENT OF KOSOVO POSITION

REF: A. STATE 024360


B. STATE 42573


1. (SBU) This is an action request for ambassadors in
Accra, Brazzaville, Pretoria, Jakarta, Doha, Panama and Lima
-- please see para 4.


2. (SBU) BACKGROUND: On April 3, UN Special Envoy Marti
Ahtisaari presented to the UNSC his proposals for Kosovo's
future status, including a recommendation that Kosovo become
independent, subject to a period of international
supervision. As explained earlier (ref A and B),the U.S.
supports Ahtisaari's recommendations and believes that
independence for Kosovo is the only viable outcome. In the
coming weeks, the U.S. and its European partners will present
a new draft UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) to endorse
Ahtisaari's recommendations and pave the way for Kosovo's
independence. Russia remains opposed to any outcome that is
not agreed to by both Serbia and Kosovo. Working with our
European allies, we are reaching out to Moscow to overcome
Russian objections.


3. (SBU) BACKGROUND CONTINUED: During April 3 Security
Council consultations, non-permanent UNSC members from Asia,
Africa and Latin America expressed various concerns about
Ahtisaari's recommendations, particularly the international
law implications of Kosovo independence. It is critical that
we line up affirmative votes from as many UNSC members as
possible (Note: Legally nine affirmative votes and no vetos
are required for the UN Security Council to approve a
resolution; however a 9-6 vote would seem politically anemic.
End note). We believe that positive positions from
non-permanent members -- particularly bellwether states South
Africa and Indonesia -- will be essential both to managing
Russia and achieving eventual success on our resolution in
the UNSC. We are therefore now planning for a period of
aggressive engagement with these members, but need posts'
advice on the best approach.


4. (SBU) We appreciate the work that posts have done already
to convey our message, as well as the concrete suggestions
that posts have provided to Washington about how best to
approach host governments. As we plan our outreach efforts,
we now request from chiefs of mission even more specific
tactical suggestions about when/where/how we should direct
our efforts in the next four to six weeks. We request that
chiefs of mission send by Monday April 11 their thoughts (if
not already provided) on:

-- any new information about the current position of the host
government on Kosovo, including their stated objections and
possible underlying factors behind their position;

-- the likelihood that the host government can eventually be
brought around to support a new UNSCR on Kosovo that endorses
Ahtisaari's recommendations;

-- an assessment of who will actually make the decision on
whether to support a new UNSCR on Kosovo (e.g., head of
state, foreign minister, etc.);

-- recommendations on the most useful approaches to influence
host government's opinions (e.g., via New York UN missions,
Washington embassies or MFAs, phone calls or visits from
senior USG officials, other countries (or individuals) that
might be persuasive to host governments),or other steps we
could take that would make it easier for host governments to
support our position on such a resolution;

-- advice on the best arguments to use with the host
government (or arguments to avoid).


5. (U) POINTS OF CONTACT: Joshua Black, Kosovo Future Status
Process coordinator, Office of South Central Europe, Bureau
of European and Eurasian Affairs (202-647-9173 or
-blackj@state.gov) and Howard Betts, Office of UN Political
Affairs at (202-647-0045 or in the GAL).
RICE