TURKEY STILL UNDECIDED ON KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001739 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/SE, EUR/SCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2018 TAGS: PREL UNAUS UNGA KV TU SUBJECT: TURKEY STILL UNDECIDED ON KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT UNGA REF: SECSTATE 105796 Classified By: Acting PolCouns Chris Krafft, reasons 1.4 (b,d) (C) Turkey is still considering its position on the Serbian resolution at UNGA seeking to refer a question on Kosovo's declaration of independence to the International Court of Justice (ICJ),MFA Balkans Department Head Ilhan Saygili told us October 6. Saygili welcomed our points (reftel),but said he believes Turkey will most likely not make a decision until the last minute. He noted that the EU is still seeking to form a consensus position around abstention, implying that Turkey might seek to join such a consensus if it emerges. Turkey's decision to recognize Kosovo's independence is irreversible, Saygili emphasized. In Turkey's view, however, any country should have the right to refer a legal question to the ICJ, the rulings of which are non-binding. Moreover, Turkey believes an ICJ referral could constitute a face-saving measure for Serbia as it seeks to repair its relations with those countries recognizing Kosovo's independence. Turkey is working hard to normalize its relations with Serbia, and believes it is making progress, though Belgrade has not yet returned its Ambassador to Ankara. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey WILSON