GHANA'S FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES KOSOVO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 000281 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2028 TAGS: PREL YI GH SUBJECT: GHANA'S FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES KOSOVO REF: A. ACCRA 235 ¶B. STATE 15111 ¶C. STATE 13716 Classified By: Ambassador Pamela E. Bridgewater for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). (C) Following up on Ambassador's demarches concerning support for Kosovo's declaration of independence, Foreign Minister Akwasi Osei-Adjei told Ambassador Bridgewater that he had discussed the matter with the Secretary during the State dinner for President Bush on February 20. On February 21 at the airport to say farewell to President Bush, Osei-Adjei said he had made the following points in his discussion with the Secretary: 1) Ghana was still looking for more nuanced language on what it would say and could say regarding Kosovo's independence; 2) the Fonmin planned to consult wth African countries inter alia Nigeria, South Africa and Botswana (the Minister said he would soon travel to Botswana for a conference); and 3) Ghana wants to determine if there is an African consensus on Kosovo's independence. Minister Osei-Adjei reiterated that Ghana feels it must be "very careful" in crafting language used in any public announcement regarding Kosovo's independence. BRIDGEWATER