SIERRA LEONE REQUEST TO TRANSMIT RECOGNITION OF

UNCLAS FREETOWN 000283 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO EUR/SCE KOSOVO DESK OFFICER DANIELA CARCANI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNMIK PGOV SL SUBJECT: SIERRA LEONE REQUEST TO TRANSMIT RECOGNITION OF KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE REF: A. PRATT-CARCANI E-MAIL JUNE 11 2008 ¶B. FREEETOWN 222 ¶C. FREETOWN 85 ¶D. FREETOWN 53 ¶1. (SBU) The Government of Sierra Leone has requested that we transmit, on their behalf, the Note Verbale ccontained in paragraph 4 to the Kosovo Foreign Ministry. The Note Verbale recognizes and congratulates the Republic of Kosovo on their independence. As discussed ref e-mail, a scanned copy of the Note Verbale will be sent to the Department and the original will be sent via pouch to EUR/SCE. Embassy Freetown is available to transmit any response to the Sierra Leone Foreign Ministry. ¶2. (SBU) Action Request: Please confirm that the Note Verbale has been transmitted to the Government of Kosovo so we may confirm delivery with the Government of Sierra Leone. ¶3. (SBU) Begin Text of Note to U.S. Embassy: Embassy of the United States of American Freetown Sierra Leone The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperaton of the Republic of Sierra Leone presnts its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America in Freetown, and has the honour to accept your offer to facilitate the transmission of Sierra Leone's official recognition of the Republic of Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state. To that end, attached herewith is a copy of the official Government of Sierra Leone Note Verbale announcing Sierra Leone's recognition of the Republic of Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone avails itself of the opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America in Freetown, the assurances of its highest consideration and esteem. Freetown, 11 June 2008 End Text of Note Verbale to U.S. Embassy ¶4. Begin Text of Note Verbale to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo Ref:3079/132 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo Pristina, Kosovo The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo and has the honour to indicate that the Government of Sierra Leone now recognizes the Republic of Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state, and congratulates the people of Kosovo for having taken a historical step in their democratic and national development. The Government of Sierra Leone has taken particular note of the assurance that the Republic of Kosovo will establish a democratic and multiethnic state that secures the rights of the minorities and the protection of the cultural heritage, and also that the Republic of Kosovo accepts continued international supervision of Kosovo based on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. The Government of Sierra Leone hails the Republic of Kosovo's willingness to assume the repsonsiblities assigned to Kosovo under the Ahtisaari Plan. The Government of Sierra Leone welcomes the Republic of Kosovo into the community of nations and wishes the Republic of Kosovo every success. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperatoin of the Republic of Sierra Leone avails itself of the opportunity to extend to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo, the assurances of its highest consideration and esteem. Freetown, 11th June 2008. End Text of Note Verbale to the Republic of Kosovo Perry PERRY