Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BERN104
2008-02-27 16:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bern
Cable title:
SWITZERLAND RECOGNIZES KOSOVO'S INDEPENDENCE
how-toVZCZCXRO8864 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSW #0104/01 0581617 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 271617Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY BERN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4888 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0181 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0317
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BERN 000104
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR (A/S FRIED, DAS DICARLO),EUR/SCE (J.BLACK),
AND EUR/AGS (Y.SAINT-ANDRE)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2018
TAGS: PREL NATO MARR EU KV SZ
SUBJECT: SWITZERLAND RECOGNIZES KOSOVO'S INDEPENDENCE
REF: A. BERN 68
B. BERN 81
C. STATE 12026
Classified By: Ambassador Peter R. Coneway; reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BERN 000104
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR (A/S FRIED, DAS DICARLO),EUR/SCE (J.BLACK),
AND EUR/AGS (Y.SAINT-ANDRE)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2018
TAGS: PREL NATO MARR EU KV SZ
SUBJECT: SWITZERLAND RECOGNIZES KOSOVO'S INDEPENDENCE
REF: A. BERN 68
B. BERN 81
C. STATE 12026
Classified By: Ambassador Peter R. Coneway; reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (U) At 4:00 p.m. (CET) on February 27, Swiss President
Pascal Couchepin announced that the Swiss Federal Council
(cabinet) had decided in a meeting earlier in the day to
recognize the independence of Kosovo and to "establish
diplomatic and consular relations between the two countries."
(full text of President Couchepin's statement is provided in
para 3) The Federal Council's decision followed GOS
consultations with the Swiss parliamentary foreign affairs
committees, February 21-22 (reftel B),and constitutes the
final step for formal Swiss recognition of Kosovo.
2. (C) Following the February 27 Federal Council meeting, and
prior to President Couchepin's public announcement, MFA State
Secretary Michael Ambuehl informed Ambassador Coneway of the
SIPDIS
Federal Council's positive decision, and said that the GOS
was delaying the public announcement for several hours to
permit Switzerland to provide notification in diplomatic
channels to Serbia and to Kosovo. MFA contacts inform post
that Ambassador Christian Meuwly, Head of the MFA's European
Affairs Division, and Jean-Daniel Ruch, Deputy Head of the
MFA's Human Security Division, will attend the first meeting
of the International Steering Group on February 28 in Vienna
(reftel C).
3. (U) BEGIN TEXT OF STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT COUCHEPIN:
Today, on the recommendation of the Federal Department of
Foreign Affairs and following consultations with the Foreign
Affairs Committees of the Council of States and the National
Council, the Federal Council decided to recognize Kosovo and
to establish diplomatic and consular relations between the
two countries.
The Federal Council took note of the Declaration of
Independence adopted by the Assembly of Kosovo on 17 February
2008 and the formal invitation to recognize Kosovo that was
addressed to the Swiss government by the President and the
Prime Minister of Kosovo on the same day.
In particular, the Federal Council welcomed the clear
commitment expressed by the authorities of Kosovo in the two
above-mentioned documents to respect in full the obligations
set out in the Comprehensive Proposal for Kosovo Status
Settlement of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of
the United Nations for Kosovo, Marti Ahtisaari, especially
those concerning the protection of minorities and the
supervision of Kosovo's independence by means of an
international civilian and military presence.
The Federal Council also noted that the authorities of Kosovo
intend to cooperate with the NATO military presence, KFOR, on
the basis resolution 1244/1999 of the United Nations Security
Council.
In a situation such as this, where emotions run very high and
there is a conflict of interests, an ideal solution is not
possible. Nevertheless the Federal Council considers that
this new step in the political reconstitution of the region
to be preferable to any alternative. In addition, it
considers that in view of the circumstances of this
particular case, Switzerland's recognition of the
independence of Kosovo does not constitute a precedent.
Clarification of the status of Kosovo is a precondition for
the stability as well as for the economic and political
development of the whole of the Western Balkans. The Federal
Council declares its intention to pursue Switzerland's
commitment in the region and to take an active part in the
international efforts both in Kosovo and in the region as a
whole.
Switzerland has always adopted balanced positions on issues
concerning the Balkans, taking into account the legitimate
interests of all parties involved. The Federal Council
wished to emphasize that Switzerland's recognition of Kosovo
goes hand in hand with its desire to develop further its good
relations with Serbia and to strengthen the very close
cooperation that exists between Serbia and Switzerland.
BERN 00000104 002 OF 002
END TEXT OF STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT COUCHEPIN
CONEWAY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR (A/S FRIED, DAS DICARLO),EUR/SCE (J.BLACK),
AND EUR/AGS (Y.SAINT-ANDRE)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2018
TAGS: PREL NATO MARR EU KV SZ
SUBJECT: SWITZERLAND RECOGNIZES KOSOVO'S INDEPENDENCE
REF: A. BERN 68
B. BERN 81
C. STATE 12026
Classified By: Ambassador Peter R. Coneway; reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (U) At 4:00 p.m. (CET) on February 27, Swiss President
Pascal Couchepin announced that the Swiss Federal Council
(cabinet) had decided in a meeting earlier in the day to
recognize the independence of Kosovo and to "establish
diplomatic and consular relations between the two countries."
(full text of President Couchepin's statement is provided in
para 3) The Federal Council's decision followed GOS
consultations with the Swiss parliamentary foreign affairs
committees, February 21-22 (reftel B),and constitutes the
final step for formal Swiss recognition of Kosovo.
2. (C) Following the February 27 Federal Council meeting, and
prior to President Couchepin's public announcement, MFA State
Secretary Michael Ambuehl informed Ambassador Coneway of the
SIPDIS
Federal Council's positive decision, and said that the GOS
was delaying the public announcement for several hours to
permit Switzerland to provide notification in diplomatic
channels to Serbia and to Kosovo. MFA contacts inform post
that Ambassador Christian Meuwly, Head of the MFA's European
Affairs Division, and Jean-Daniel Ruch, Deputy Head of the
MFA's Human Security Division, will attend the first meeting
of the International Steering Group on February 28 in Vienna
(reftel C).
3. (U) BEGIN TEXT OF STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT COUCHEPIN:
Today, on the recommendation of the Federal Department of
Foreign Affairs and following consultations with the Foreign
Affairs Committees of the Council of States and the National
Council, the Federal Council decided to recognize Kosovo and
to establish diplomatic and consular relations between the
two countries.
The Federal Council took note of the Declaration of
Independence adopted by the Assembly of Kosovo on 17 February
2008 and the formal invitation to recognize Kosovo that was
addressed to the Swiss government by the President and the
Prime Minister of Kosovo on the same day.
In particular, the Federal Council welcomed the clear
commitment expressed by the authorities of Kosovo in the two
above-mentioned documents to respect in full the obligations
set out in the Comprehensive Proposal for Kosovo Status
Settlement of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of
the United Nations for Kosovo, Marti Ahtisaari, especially
those concerning the protection of minorities and the
supervision of Kosovo's independence by means of an
international civilian and military presence.
The Federal Council also noted that the authorities of Kosovo
intend to cooperate with the NATO military presence, KFOR, on
the basis resolution 1244/1999 of the United Nations Security
Council.
In a situation such as this, where emotions run very high and
there is a conflict of interests, an ideal solution is not
possible. Nevertheless the Federal Council considers that
this new step in the political reconstitution of the region
to be preferable to any alternative. In addition, it
considers that in view of the circumstances of this
particular case, Switzerland's recognition of the
independence of Kosovo does not constitute a precedent.
Clarification of the status of Kosovo is a precondition for
the stability as well as for the economic and political
development of the whole of the Western Balkans. The Federal
Council declares its intention to pursue Switzerland's
commitment in the region and to take an active part in the
international efforts both in Kosovo and in the region as a
whole.
Switzerland has always adopted balanced positions on issues
concerning the Balkans, taking into account the legitimate
interests of all parties involved. The Federal Council
wished to emphasize that Switzerland's recognition of Kosovo
goes hand in hand with its desire to develop further its good
relations with Serbia and to strengthen the very close
cooperation that exists between Serbia and Switzerland.
BERN 00000104 002 OF 002
END TEXT OF STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT COUCHEPIN
CONEWAY