GOC "INTENDS" TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO - BUT DITHERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 001889 SIPDIS FOR EUR/SCE JOSHUA BLACK E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2018 TAGS: PREL UNMIK PGOV YI EU KV CO SUBJECT: GOC "INTENDS" TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO - BUT DITHERS REF: A. BOGOTA 1538 B. STATE 41979 Classified By: Ambassador William R. Brownfield. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) The Ambassador called Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo on May 13 to urge that the GOC immediately recognize Kosovo. The Ambassador summarized points from the Secretary's letter (ref B) and told Araujo that the issue was important to the USG. The Ambassador noted that the GOC had spent a longtime deliberating, and that while we understood the sensitivities, the GOC needed to eventually decide whether or not they would officially support Kosovo. The Ambassador sent the FM the Secretary's letter and a cover note prior to the call. ¶2. (C) Araujo agreed that the GOC had taken a while to respond. He explained that he had consulted with the Advisory Council of the MFA--which includes both vice-ministers and a number of former foreign ministers. The Council recommended that GOC wait more time before recognizing Kosovo. Araujo said the GOC's intention was to recognize Kosovo; it was simply a question of timing. Araujo told the Ambassador that he planned to consult the Council again based on the conversation. The Ambassador acknowledged Araujo's need to consult, but explained that deferring the decision would only complicate matters and they should recognize Kosovo now. BROWNFIELD