POLLING POTENTIAL DONORS ON ASSISTANCE TO KOSOVO

UNCLAS CANBERRA 000322 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID EFIN EU EUN KV AS SUBJECT: POLLING POTENTIAL DONORS ON ASSISTANCE TO KOSOVO REF: (A) CANBERRA 221 (B) STATE 18802 ¶1. Per ref. B, DFAT has provided a formal response to our approach regarding assistance to Kosovo. DFAT Europe Division Acting First Assistant Secretary John Griffin wrote to Polcouns on 28 March that Australia is best placed to assist Kosovo through support and advocacy in multilateral organizations. Griffin confirmed that, per our request, Foreign Minister Smith has written to the Treasurer asking that he lend Australia's support to any prospective request by Kosovo for membership in multilateral organizations such as the IMF and the World Bank. Full text of Griffith's letter follows in para. 2. ¶2. Thank you for your letter of 27 February 2008, addressed to the former First Assistant Secretary of Europe Division, asking Australia to consider contributing financial assistance to the Republic of Kosovo. We have given consideration to the issues raised in your request and believe that Australia is best placed to assist Kosovo through support and advocacy in multilateral organizations. Further to your request that Australia use its executive director's offices at international financial institutions to facilitate and expedite Kosovo's membership in appropriate organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and the WorId Bank, I confirm that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon Stephen Smith MP, has written to the Treasurer asking that he lend Australia's support to any prospective request by Kosovo for membership of these organizations. Australia, as a member of the UNESCO WorId Heritage Committee, will also use its position to advocate that Kosovo' s independence should have no impact on the ongoing protection of World Heritage sites in Kosovo. The preservation of these key religious heritage sites remains a priority given their importance to Serbian communities. Yours sincerely, John Griffin, Acting First Assistant Secretary Europe Division SIPDIS Clune