TAJIKISTAN - NO KOSOVO ICJ POSITION YET

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 001127

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN AND EUR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2018
TAGS: PREL UN UNGA KV TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN - NO KOSOVO ICJ POSITION YET

REF: STATE 91908

Classified By: A/DCM Matt Purl, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) On September 5 Acting DCM spoke with Muzafar
Khuseynov, Chief of the Department of International
Organizations, concerning reftel. Khuseynov said that
Tajikistan had not yet formulated a position on whether to
support referral of Kosovo's declaration of independence to
the International Court of Justice (ICJ). A/DCM conveyed
U.S. concerns that referral to the ICJ could have adverse
consequences in the Balkans and beyond.


2. (C) Khuseynov declined to predict what Tajikistan's
position would be, saying the government needed to consult
internally and with its mission to the UN before deciding.
He assured A/DCM that he would push to accelerate the
decision making process on this matter, and to contact the
embassy if there were any developments.


3. (C) On September 2 Charge d'Affaires called on the French
Charge d'Affaires regarding reftel. The French Charge said
that he did not have instructions to raise the Kosovo/ICJ
matter in Dushanbe. The German Embassy also reported having
no instructions on this issue.


4. (C) Comment: Tajikistan has not recognized Kosovo, and
wishes to keep away from any Kosovo-related matters. We do
not know of any pressure on Tajikistan to support referral of
Kosovo to the ICJ. However, the Government of Tajikistan
clearly has only begun to consider this matter, does not
easily absorb subtle messages, and works best with formal
written demarches. It would be helpful if post received
cleared points on this matter which could be left with the
Government for them to use in their consultations. End
Comment.
QUAST