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