Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TIRANA997
2007-11-19 16:36:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tirana
Cable title:  

ALBANIAN REACTION TO KOSOVO ELECTIONS

Tags:  PGOV PREL KV AL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0192
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTI #0997 3231636
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 191636Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6414
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS TIRANA 000997 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KV AL
SUBJECT: ALBANIAN REACTION TO KOSOVO ELECTIONS

REF: TIRANA 834

UNCLAS TIRANA 000997

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KV AL
SUBJECT: ALBANIAN REACTION TO KOSOVO ELECTIONS

REF: TIRANA 834


1. (U) Across the political spectrum, Albanians responded
positively to the November 17 elections in Kosovo. All major
players (President Bamir Topi, PM Sali Berisha, Speaker
Jozefina Topalli, opposition leader Edi Rama) personally
phoned PDK Chair Hashim Thaci to congratulate him on his
expected victory. Their public statements emphasized these
elections as meeting the challenge of democratic governance
and reinforcing Kosovo's readiness for independence. (Text
of MFA and Presidency statements e-mailed to EUR/SCE.)


2. (U) Opposition leader Edi Rama was reportedly the first
to phone Thaci, a longtime ally. Rama said publicly that
"the democratic, free and de facto independent Kosovo has
won," while a more measured statement emerged from the Office
of the President describing Kosovo as "capable and fully
ready for expected independence." Opposition Movement for
Socialist Integration (LSI) deputy chairman Pellumb Xhufi hit
Serbia hardest in his party's statement, denouncing
Belgrade's "boycott" of the elections.


3. (SBU) COMMENT: Across political lines, Albanian
politicians demonstrated this weekend their unified position
on Kosovo. The positive, measured response underscores
unyielding support for independence reinforced in a steady
and politically mature manner.
WITHERS