IRAQ CABINET DEFERS KOSOVO RECOGNITION; PREFERS TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000480 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR KOSOVO MONITORING GROUP E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2018 TAGS: KFLO AEMR ASEC CASC MARR PREL PINR AMGT YI EU, KV, IZ SUBJECT: IRAQ CABINET DEFERS KOSOVO RECOGNITION; PREFERS TO FOLLOW OTHER ARAB COUNTRIES AND OIC LEAD REF: A. SECSTATE 16275 ¶B. KUWAIT 196 Classified By: Political Counselor Matt Tueller for Reasons 1.4d/b ¶1. (C) On February 19, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told PolCounselor that Kosovo recognition was the first item on that morning's Cabinet meeting agenda and the Cabinet generally was in favor of recognition. However, several (unidentified) participants argued that Iraq should not get out ahead of other Arab countries and the Organization of Islamic States and persuaded Prime Minister Maliki to defer a decision. ¶2. (C) Comment. The Cabinet appears to be following some neighboring countries' lead (ref B) and waiting for an Arab consensus to emerge before recognizing Kosovo. At the Foreign Minister's request Post will provide a list of countries that have already recognized Kosovo. End Comment. CROCKER