PRESSING INDONESIA ON KOSOVO RECOGNITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001283 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAO, EAO/MTS, EAP/MLS, EUR EUR/SCE FOR SEIJI SIRATORI, WILLIAM TOMLYANOVICH NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV UN UNMIK KV ID SUBJECT: PRESSING INDONESIA ON KOSOVO RECOGNITION REF: STATE 69691 Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Mission reviewed points related to recognizing Kosovo and participation in the Kosovo Donors Conference with GOI contact. Pol/C underscored that Indonesian recognition would help Kosovo on its positive path and noted that 43 countries had already taken that step since February. GOI interlocutor replied that the Indonesian government had not yet taken a determinative decision on the matter and was not precluding recognition at some point. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) URGING RECOGNITION: Pol/C met June 30 with Trini Gunarti, Deputy Director of the Americas Desk in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU),and reviewed points contained in reftel re Kosovo. Mission also provided points to contacts in the Presidential Palace and in other DEPLU offices. ¶3. (C) Pol/C noted that since its declaration of independence on February 17 Kosovo has made remarkable progress. Kosovo has moved forward in implementing the Ahtisaari Plan. Moreover, Kosovo has remained calm and orderly apart from some actions by radical Serbs. The UN has agreed to an enhanced role for the European Union in the area of the rule of law. In light of these developments, the U.S. urges more countries to recognize Kosovo. Pol/C underscored that Indonesian recognition would help Kosovo on its positive path and noted that 43 countries have already recognized the country. ¶4. (U) Pol/C added that the USG urged countries to participate and to pledge at the Kosovo Donors Conference to be held in Brussels on July 11. ¶5. (C) GOI CONTINUES TO REVIEW MATTER: Gunarti replied that the Indonesian government had not yet taken a determinative decision on the matter and was not precluding recognition at some point. The GOI wanted to see peace and security in the Southeastern European region, and it was positive that Kosovo's independence was not proving problematic. ¶6. (C) NO SIGN OF GOI ACTION: So far, we see little sign that the Indonesian government plans to take the plunge and to recognize Kosovo at any point soon. While some Islamic groups are favorable to the idea, other Indonesians have complained at what they see as Western power involvement in the creation of the new state. In addition, the GOI remains worried that Kosovo's separation from Serbia could prove a precedent given long-standing regional tensions in Indonesia. That said, the news from Kosovo is positive and strongly argues for an Indonesian re-assessment. HUME