Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CAIRO77
2008-01-17 11:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:
EGYPT UNDECIDED ABOUT SUPPORTING KOSOVAR
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHEG #0077 0171127 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 171127Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7909 INFO RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA 0061 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0022 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0191 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
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
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