Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ABUJA344
2008-02-22 14:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:  

NIGERIA NOT INCLINED TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO AT THIS

Tags:  PREL PGOV UNAUS UNMIK YI EU KV NI 
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VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUJA #0344 0531434
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 221434Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2147
INFO RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0352
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0012
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY
RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA PRIORITY 0009
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000344 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNAUS UNMIK YI EU KV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA NOT INCLINED TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO AT THIS
TIME

REF: A. SECSTATE 17891

B. ABUJA 312

C. ABUJA 296

Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons
1.4. (b d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000344

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNAUS UNMIK YI EU KV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA NOT INCLINED TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO AT THIS
TIME

REF: A. SECSTATE 17891

B. ABUJA 312

C. ABUJA 296

Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons
1.4. (b d).


1. (C) Ref A suggests that the GON has privately indicated
its inclination to recognize Kosovo. In ref B, we reported
that President Yar'Adua had indicated to the Ambassador that
Nigeria would take time to see what its neighbors were doing,
and would evaluate what was in its best interest before
deciding what to do. We also reported (in refs B and C) that
the Foreign Minister and MFA have repeatedly told us that
Nigeria will likely follow a common African Union position
(once there is one) on recognizing Kosovo. It is very
unlikely that this position will change any time soon, and
they have not indicated to us privately that they are on the
verge or even close to recognizing Kosovo.


2. (C) President Yar'Adua and his administration are strongly
focused on the question of how the Presidential Election
Tribunal will rule February 26 on the validity of his April
2007 election. A ruling against him (which we believe might
be a possibility, see septel) would require a rerun of the
election later this year. Under these circumstances, the
President is unlikely to take any decisive action on other
issues at the moment, particularly anything that does not
have an immediate domestic impact. Things in Abuja are on
hold right now.
SANDERS