GERMAN SUPPORT FOR KOSOVO REMAINS STRONG DESPITE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 001636 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2018 TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS NATO EUN SR GM KS SUBJECT: GERMAN SUPPORT FOR KOSOVO REMAINS STRONG DESPITE RECENT ARRESTS Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor Stan Otto for reason s: 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (U) PolOff met with German MFA Deputy Office Director for the Balkans Mark Bogdahn December 5 to discuss the fallout from the recent arrest of three German Bundesnachtrichtendienst (BND) officers accused of the November 14 bombing of the EU building in Pristina, as well as to review developments in the EULEX mission and upcoming visits of German officials to Kosovo. ¶2. (C) According to Bogdahn, the allegation that BND officers (Germany's federal intelligence agency) were involved in the bombing was "difficult to understand," and the GoK's motivation behind the scenes remains "unclear but troubling." Bogdahn noted that, had the matter not been resolved, "conversations were beginning about reviewing Germany,s financial support for Kosovo." With the return of the BND officers November 29, Bogdahn assured PolOff that the 100 million Euros in German aid to Kosovo will be "transferred as scheduled." The German MOD recently announced that it will contribute 7 million Euro worth of equipment to the Kosovo Security Forces as well. ¶3. (C) With the official December 9 EULEX deployment date looming, Bogdahn noted that the change in government in Belgrade made the mission transition process "much easier," saying that cooperation between Serbia and Kosovo was improving, albeit slowly. The next challenge will be to focus "additional efforts to combat corruption in Kosovo and throughout the region," he said. ¶4. (C) Bogdahn also noted that Kosovo,s diplomatic mission in Germany is just getting off the ground, with a Charge d'Affaires from Kosovo maintaining an office in a local Berlin hotel while looking for space to build a formal embassy in 2009. Germany is continuing to work &very intensely8 to encourage other countries to recognize Kosovo. ¶5. (SBU) Bogdahn confirmed that MOD Parliamentary State Secretary Christian Schmidt will be traveling to Pristina December 9, although this visit is not related to the EULEX kickoff. Schmidt plans to meet with the Kosovo prime minister, foreign minister and defense minister, as well as the heads of UNMIK and EULEX. Koenig