DEMARCHE TO VIETNAM ON KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION

UNCLAS HANOI 001138 STATE FOR EUR/SCE - SEIJI SHIRATORI AND WILLIAM TOMLYANOVICH SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UN UNGA KV VM SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO VIETNAM ON KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION REF: STATE 105796 ¶1. (SBU) On October 3, Pol Counselor delivered reftel demarche to MFA Department of International Organizations Deputy Director General Pham Vinh Quang. Quang had just returned from the UN and said he had heard the Serbian representative's speech on this issue. Serbia has refrained from using force or imposing an economic blockade against Kosovo, Quang noted, saying this represents good will and a desire to resolve the issue peacefully. The resolution proposed by Serbia is the lowest level of action that can be expected from Serbia. ¶2. (SBU) The GVN has not yet made a formal decision on the resolution, Quang said, but is likely to support it as any country has the right to put a matter before the ICJ. Pol Counselor noted that putting the matter before the ICJ could raise false hopes for reversing Kosovo's independence. Quang said Vietnam hopes for all involved to come together and resolve their differences peacefully. MICHALAK