TURKEY TO ADVOCATE FOR KOSOVO AT OIC SUMMIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000457 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR/SCE FOR JOSHUA BLACK E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSC EU KV TU SUBJECT: TURKEY TO ADVOCATE FOR KOSOVO AT OIC SUMMIT REF: STATE 22377 Classified By: PolCouns Janice G. Weiner for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Turkey will actively advocate for Kosovo at the March 13-14 Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) ministerial summit in Dakar, Senegal, MFA Deputy Director General for the Balkans and Western Europe Hasan Asan told us March 7. As one of the first countries to recognize Kosovo, Turkey has made it known within the OIC its support for Kosovo's attendance. Asan reported OIC SecGen (and Turkish citizen) Ihsanoglu recently sent a letter encouraging the Senegalese government to invite Kosovo to the summit. In addition, the GOT will promote Kosovo recognition during its individual bilats on the margins. Asan noted the GOT has already engaged the Saudis on the issue and will continue to do so. He added that MFA believes the SAG would soon extend recognition. ¶2. (C) Asan reported the GOT is working with the Albanian government to refine their proposed Kosovo communique language (see language below, para 5). Noting many OIC members' annoyance with Albania due to its refusal to "sync up" with the majority on other issues of importance, the GOT is in the process of rewriting the Kosovo section to "tone down the rhetoric" and remove unnecessary passages that could inflame key nations, particularly Indonesia and Qatar. ¶3. (C) Asan added that Turkey will propose language for the customary communiqu passage on Bosnia and Herzegovina. The text will closely parallel the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) statement issued after the February 26-27 meeting in Brussels. ¶4. (C) Asan warned that Serbian Foreign Minister Jeremic wrote to OIC SecGen Ihsanoglu on February 29, encouraging the OIC not to recognize Kosovo. Reiterating the GOS, earlier request to become an OIC observer, Jeremic solicited an invitation to attend the Dakar summit. Given Serbia's Muslim population, Asan commented the GOT would not object to GOS representation, but would take the necessary steps to guarantee Serb participation remained constructive. ¶5. (C) Current proposed Albanian text (as received): Begin text: The Conference enlightened from the very important event, which took place on February 17, 2008. Kosovo has finally declared its independence after a long and determined struggle by its people. The Conference declared its support and solidarity to Muslim brothers and sisters on this path. It wished full success to the people of Kosovo and assured them for its support in their efforts to build a strong and prosperous state capable of meeting the expectations of its people. The Conference expressed the hope that, in respect of the will of Kosovo people, the OIC Member States will recognize the new independent state of Kosovo, so that it would become as soon as possible a worthy member of the large family of the United Nations. There is no doubt that independent Kosovo will be an asset to the Muslim World and a significant factor, contributing to a lasting peace, stability and security in the region and beyond. End text. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey WILSON