EGYPT UNDECIDED ABOUT SUPPORTING KOSOVAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000077 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE (BLACK) E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV UNMIK EG YI SUBJECT: EGYPT UNDECIDED ABOUT SUPPORTING KOSOVAR INDEPENDENCE REF: SECSTATE 1087 Classified by Minister Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). (C) On January 17, we urged Egypt to quickly recognize Kosovo when it declares its independence with Ahmed Hamdy Bakr, MFA deputy director for East and South Europe and the Balkans. We emphasized that final status negotiations have exhausted their potential and that we must urgently move forward under the Ahtisaari plan per reftel demarche. Noting GOE interest in maintaining stability in the Balkans, Bakr replied that "everyone knows Kosovo will be independent" but the GOE is unsure if now is the right time to recognize Kosovar independence. Bakr noted that Egypt was studying how Bosnia would react and whether international support for Kosovar independence would set a precedent for "other countries in the region" (NFI). Bakr several times mentioned the GOE's interest in how other Islamic countries view the issue. He also promised to convey our points to Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit, who receives "daily" updates on Kosovo. Ricciardone