BRAZIL TO WAIT AND SEE ON KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRASILIA 000216 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR AND WHA/BSC E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV UN UNMIK YI BR SUBJECT: BRAZIL TO WAIT AND SEE ON KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE REF: A) SECSTATE 13716 B) BRASILIA 00084 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Phillip Chicola. Reason: 1.4 (b ) and (d) ¶1. (C) In the Ambassador's absence from the capital, Political Counselor followed up Ambassador's initial demarche on Kosovo independence (ref B),delivering Ref A points to Brazil's Ministry of External Relations (MRE) Eastern European Acting Director Rodrigo Mendes Carlos de Almeida. De Almeida said that the MRE had taken USG views under advisement and understands the substantive reasons that Kosovo independence is merited, but is concerned that, as UNSC Resolution 1244 is the basis for the process, the outcome should be determined by UNSC action. In the MRE's view, a unilateral declaration of independence under these circumstances does not allow for immediate recognition. As a result, Brazil does not/not plan to recognize Kosovo independence immediately based on a unilateral declaration, but will see how the process unfolds, both with regard to Kosovo government commitments regarding adherence to the Ahtisaari recommendations and international community support, before making a decision on recognizing Kosovo's independence. ¶2. (C) Comment: This position is not unexpected, as it fits with Brazil's historic preference for multilateral, and particularly UN-backed solutions, as well the GOB's tendency to follow rather than lead on potentially contentious issues on which it does not see core national interests at stake. SOBEL SOBEL