Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07USUNNEWYORK522
2007-06-25 23:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
USUN New York
Cable title:
CHURKIN: A LAPSE OF 1244 WOULD MEAN KOSOVO REVERTS
how-toVZCZCXRO5476 PP RUEHBZ RUEHIK RUEHYG DE RUCNDT #0522 1762358 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 252358Z JUN 07 FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2144 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 0161 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 0985 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA PRIORITY 0916
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000522
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSC UNMIK YI
SUBJECT: CHURKIN: A LAPSE OF 1244 WOULD MEAN KOSOVO REVERTS
TO SERBIA (OR DOES IT?).
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000522
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSC UNMIK YI
SUBJECT: CHURKIN: A LAPSE OF 1244 WOULD MEAN KOSOVO REVERTS
TO SERBIA (OR DOES IT?).
1. (SBU) In the course of a June 25 discussion with
Ambassador Khalilzad, Russian Permrep Churkin said he would
veto the draft resolution tabled by cosponsors June 20 if it
was brought to a vote today. Churkin expressed interest in a
formula that would have a first resolution calling for
negotiations between the parties for a fixed period, during
which the international presence called for in the Ahtisaari
plan (e.g., EU, NATO) would be authorized and at the end of
which UNSCR 1244 would terminate. A second resolution, over
which we and the Russians would retain veto authority, would
decide what follows.
2. (SBU) Churkin's assessment is that once 1244 lapses,
Kosovo reverts to Serbia under international law. We do not
believe that assessment is correct.
3. (SBU) We request Department's opinion on how a lapse of
1244, with no UNSC follow-on action, would affect Kosovo's
status.
4. (SBU) We see two options ahead of us: 1) Continue to
press for the current resolution, including putting into
"blue" and possibly pushing it to a vote prior to the
Kennebunkport Summit -- a step that could force the Russians
to show any remaining flexibility and demonstrate that UNSC
action on Kosovo is stymied. 2) Explore a variant of a
minimalist resolution along the lines of the
Khalilzad-Churkin discussion described above, which would
authorize the international presence components of the
Ahtisaari plan, allow for a fixed period of negotiations
after which UNSCR 1244 would terminate, with or without a
second resolution on what follows. This option would allow
us and the Europeans to recognize Kosovo after 1244 lapses.
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSC UNMIK YI
SUBJECT: CHURKIN: A LAPSE OF 1244 WOULD MEAN KOSOVO REVERTS
TO SERBIA (OR DOES IT?).
1. (SBU) In the course of a June 25 discussion with
Ambassador Khalilzad, Russian Permrep Churkin said he would
veto the draft resolution tabled by cosponsors June 20 if it
was brought to a vote today. Churkin expressed interest in a
formula that would have a first resolution calling for
negotiations between the parties for a fixed period, during
which the international presence called for in the Ahtisaari
plan (e.g., EU, NATO) would be authorized and at the end of
which UNSCR 1244 would terminate. A second resolution, over
which we and the Russians would retain veto authority, would
decide what follows.
2. (SBU) Churkin's assessment is that once 1244 lapses,
Kosovo reverts to Serbia under international law. We do not
believe that assessment is correct.
3. (SBU) We request Department's opinion on how a lapse of
1244, with no UNSC follow-on action, would affect Kosovo's
status.
4. (SBU) We see two options ahead of us: 1) Continue to
press for the current resolution, including putting into
"blue" and possibly pushing it to a vote prior to the
Kennebunkport Summit -- a step that could force the Russians
to show any remaining flexibility and demonstrate that UNSC
action on Kosovo is stymied. 2) Explore a variant of a
minimalist resolution along the lines of the
Khalilzad-Churkin discussion described above, which would
authorize the international presence components of the
Ahtisaari plan, allow for a fixed period of negotiations
after which UNSCR 1244 would terminate, with or without a
second resolution on what follows. This option would allow
us and the Europeans to recognize Kosovo after 1244 lapses.
KHALILZAD