CHINA ON KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT UNGA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 003801 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/SCE - SEIJI SHIRATORI AND WILLIAM TOMLYANOVICH E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2018 TAGS: PREL UN UNGA KV CH SUBJECT: CHINA ON KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT UNGA REF: A. STATE 105796 (NOTAL) ¶B. STATE 105808 (NOTAL) Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson for reasons 1.4 (B/D). ¶1. (C) POLOFF on October 6 conveyed to MFA reftel points urging China to oppose a Serbian resolution to refer the question of the legality of Kosovo's declaration of independence to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). MFA International Organizations and Conferences Department UN Division Deputy Director Sun Xiaobo said that China's position, as previously expressed in the UN General Committee, is that China "respects" Serbia's proposal but believes that direct negotiations are the best way to resolve the Kosovo dispute. Sun declined to say how China plans to vote on the resolution. ¶2. (C) POLOFF urged China to oppose the Serbian proposal, noting that referring such a matter to the ICJ might have implications for conflicts in other parts of the world that involve issues such as the right to secede from a country or the right to self-determination. Sun promised to convey U.S. views to senior MFA officials. PICCUTA