KAZAKHSTAN - DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON KOSOVO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASTANA 001223 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/08/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO KV KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN - DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON KOSOVO RECOGNITION AND DONORS CONFERENCE REF: STATE 69691 Classified By: Pol-Econ Chief Steven Fagin, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) As the Ambassador was unable to arrange a meeting with Foreign Minister Tazhin, Pol-Econ Chief delivered reftel demarche on Kosovo independence to MFA Americas Department head Talgat Kaliyev on July 3. Kaliyev indicated that Kazakhstan's position on Kosovo remained unchanged. He also doubted that Kazakhstan would send a representative to the July 11 Kosovo donors' conference. ¶2. (C) Comment: As we have previously reported, Foreign Minister Tazhin has stressed to the Ambassador that while Kazakhstan would not be among the very first countries to recognize Kosovo, it would not be among the very last either. In any event, we doubt that Kazakhstan will move far out in front of Russia on Kosovo independence. That said, post would welcome from the Department detailed information on recognition of Kosovo by OIC member states. An emerging OIC consensus on Kosovo could influence Kazakhstan's views. End Comment. ORDWAY