Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07USUNNEWYORK1175
2007-12-14 21:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
USUN New York
Cable title:  

KOSOVO'S RETURN TO UNSC FINDS RUSSIA STILL

Tags:  PREL UNSC UNMIK KV YI 
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VZCZCXRO2489
PP RUEHBZ RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHYG
DE RUCNDT #1175/01 3482124
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 142124Z DEC 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3348
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 0218
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 1120
RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA PRIORITY 1056
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 001175 

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SENSITIVE
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNSC UNMIK KV YI
SUBJECT: KOSOVO'S RETURN TO UNSC FINDS RUSSIA STILL
UNCOOPERATIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 001175

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNSC UNMIK KV YI
SUBJECT: KOSOVO'S RETURN TO UNSC FINDS RUSSIA STILL
UNCOOPERATIVE


1. (SBU) Summary: In UNSC consultations on December 13,
Russia raised its recently circulated elements for a PRST on
Kosovo. Ambassadors Khalilzad and Sawers voiced disagreement
with the premise of the elements that there is scope for a
mutually acceptable solution. They said there can be no PRST
under the current circumstances. France, Belgium and
Slovakia also spoke against a PRST. In afternoon
consultations, the Council discussed Prime Minister Kostunica
and President Sejdiu's request to participate in the December
19 UNSC meeting on the Troika's report. The UK, Belgium,
Panama, Slovakia, the US, Peru, France and Ghana spoke in
favor of Sejdiu's participation. Russia, China and Indonesia
supported a formula that would allow Sejdiu to participate
only in a non-official Arria meeting. In order to preempt a
vote on the matter, Russian PR Churkin proposed a compromise
that would allow Serb and Kosovar representatives to address
the Council but in a closed meeting. Russia raised familiar
arguments about Abkhaz participation in UNSC meetings. End
Summary.

CONSULTATIONS ON RUSSIAN PRST ELEMENTS
--------------


2. (SBU) In Security Council consultations on December 19,
Russian Permrep Vitaly Churkin raised Russia's recently
circulated "Key Elements for a Security Council PRST on
Kosovo." (Note: These were e-mailed to Department.) He
stated the elements make "an objective statement on the
Troika process" and "encourage the parties to continue to try
to find a mutually acceptable solution." Churkin claimed
"there can be no regional stability unless an agreed solution
is reached." "A solution could hardly be expected in 120
days," argued Churkin, "but, the Troika talks have shown the
depth of the position of at least one of the parties" and
"the analysis of any pragmatic expert would conclude the
Troika's progress could be the basis for a solution."
Churkin asked the Secretariat to officially distribute
Russia's elements. He noted positive comments on Russia's
elements from some Council members and said he hoped informal
negotiations could begin.


3. (SBU) UK Permrep Sawers recalled EU Troika Envoy
Ischinger's letter to Solana that the potential for a
negotiated solution is exhausted. Explaining that the U.S.

and other EU countries on the Council agreed, Sawers
challenged the premise of Russia's elements that there is
scope for a mutually-acceptable solution. He underscored
there is "a clear way forward on the table" and if Russia can
agree to it, we can move forward in the Council, but
otherwise "the EU and others will take up their
responsibilities in relation to Kosovo and the region."


4. (SBU) Ambassador Khalilzad said that there is no common
basis for a way forward because we disagree there is scope
for continuing negotiations. He said Kosovo's status is not
an area where we can paper over differences, rather we need
clarity. Khalilzad continued that much is at stake and the
US and European countries have responsibilities and troops on
the ground; because of our fundamental differences we believe
there is no basis for Russia's PRST.


5. (SBU) French DPR Lacroix concurred that there is no space
for negotiations and the status quo in Kosovo has gone on too
long. Belgian Permrep Verbeke said the Troika process was
thorough, but did not bring the parties' fundamental
positions "an inch closer" and added that Russia's elements
go fundamentally against Belgium's conclusions.


6. (SBU) China's PolCoordinator responded that the Council
should show patience because negotiations are preferable to
confrontation, and thus there is a basis for a PRST.


7. (SBU) Churkin rebutted references to Ischinger's letter,
saying it contained personal views not in the Troika's
report. The Troika's report says "a range of options" was
explored, not "all options," said Churkin. Russia's position
that there should be a negotiated solution is "in line with
UNSCR 1244 and a body of international law respecting
sovereignty and territorial integrity" and stands unchanged.
Churkin argued that Belgrade narrowed the gap during Troika
negotiations by offering to allow Kosovo to work with
international financial bodies, send its own sports teams to
international competitions and control "anything except
foreign policy and borders."


8. (SBU) Responding to Churkin, Ambassador Khalilzad said the
distance between the parties' positions on the fundamental

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issues is as wide as ever and short of a fundamental change
in Russia's position we consider the PRST dead. Slovakia
stated that more talks between Belgrade and Pristina would be
useful, but only after status was determined to build a
neighborly relationship.

CONSULTATIONS ON FORMAT OF DECEMBER 19 UNSC MEETING
-------------- --------------


9. (SBU) The Council discussed in afternoon consultations the
issue of active requests by Prime Minister Kostunica of
Serbia and President Sejdiu of Kosovo to participate in the
December 19 session. Churkin spoke in favor of the format
used for the April 3 meeting that included the following mix
of meetings: 1) consultations 2) a private meeting where SE
Ahtisaari, Kostunica and SRSG Rucker (reading a statement by
Sejdiu) spoke 3) an Arria meeting with Sejdiu 4)
consultations with Ahtisaari. China and Indonesia spoke in
favor of this previous format. The UK, Belgium, Panama,
Slovakia, the US, Peru, France and Ghana supported allowing
Sejdiu's participation. Many made the argument that
employing rule 39 avoids any prejudice on the question of
status.

COUNCIL AGREES ON PRIVATE MEETING FOR KOSTUNICA AND SEJDIU
-------------- --------------


10. (SBU) In consultations the morning of December 14,
Churkin proposed a compromise December 19 private meeting in
which Kostunica could participate under rule 37 and Sejdiu
under rule 39. He added that the Council should be
consistent in allowing parties to international conflicts
participation in meetings. All members agreed to the
formula, but China and Indonesia underscored that the door
should not be open to allow anyone to address the Council,
only parties to conflicts on the Council's agenda.
Ambassador Wolff and the UK's Sawers spoke in favor of the
Council continuing to decide meeting participation on a
case-by-case basis. Churkin stated he expects an Abkhaz
representative will be issued a visa in April to participate
in the next Council meeting on Georgia.

COMMENT
--------------


11. (SBU) Ambassador Churkin obviously took the initiative of
proposing the above compromise because he saw Russia would
lose if it continued to block Sejdiu's participation.
However, there was clearly strong support around the table
for allowing an Abkhaz representative to be heard by the
Council.
Khalilzad