FINLAND COMMENTS: KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT UNGA

C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000457 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2018 TAGS: PREL UN UNGA ICJ KV FI SUBJECT: FINLAND COMMENTS: KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT UNGA REF: A. STATE 105796 ¶B. STATE 91908 Classified By: PolChief Scott Brandon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) PolOff and Finland Desk Officer met with Finnish MFA Counselor Tony Paso, Unit for EU Enlargement and West Balkans on October 7. Regarding the Serbian resolution, Paso said that the Government of Finland (GoF) will abstain regardless of the EU position, coinciding with the public position taken by President Halonen and Foreign Minister Stubb in late September. He said the GoF hoped to see the rest of the EU abstain. Paso also said that the GoF would join in a declaration by the EU countries recognizing Kosovo if any is made to provide a voting explanation. Paso also noted that Cyprus will vote for the resolution since their President has publicly declared in favor and won't move to abstain. He indicated that Romania and Spain may also vote for the resolution and that surprisingly, Sweden may vote for the resolution or possibly abstain. The UK was the only EU member who wanted to vote against the resolution. GoF expects the resolution to pass in the General Assembly. ¶2. (C) Comment: GoF is abstaining in line with their longstanding support for international fora for conflict resolution. Their initial inclination was to vote against. Serbia approached them in July, and after further internal GoF discussion they decided to abstain regardless of the EU position. End Comment. BARRETT