MALAYSIA LOOKS TO SENEGAL TO INVITE KOSOVO FOR OIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000142

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR NEA/RA, EUR/SCE, AF/W AND EAP/MTS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2018
TAGS: PREL OIC KVIR SG MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA LOOKS TO SENEGAL TO INVITE KOSOVO FOR OIC
SUMMIT

REF: A. STATE 20646 - ELICITING INVITE TO OIC SUMMIT

B. KUALA LUMPUR 121 - TIMING OF RECOGNITION STILL
AN ISSUE

C. KUALA LUMPUR 111 - MALAYSIA WELCOMES KOSOVO
INDEPENDENCE

Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark, reason 1.4 (b and
d).


1. (C) The Malaysian Foreign Ministry's OIC envoy,
Ambassador Ibrahim Abdullah, told Political Section Chief on
February 29 that Senegal as the host should invite Kosovo to
the March OIC summit in Dakar, responding to ref A demarche.
Given that some OIC members did not support Kosovo's
independence, an invitation from Senegal would be the most
practical way forward for involving Kosovo at the summit,
Ibrahim commented. At the least, Kosovo could be included as
a guest, which would allow attendance at the opening and
closing ceremonies, and presence at the event for the purpose
of networking. Polchief urged Malaysia to use its position
as OIC Chair to encourage Senegal to extend the invitation.
Ibrahim did not commit Malaysia to any specific action.


2. (C) Comment: We interpreted Ambassador Ibrahim's
willingness to discuss practical approaches to this question
as an indication of Malaysia's support for Kosovo's
attendance at the OIC summit. This would be in line with
Malaysia's public position welcoming Kosovo's independence
(refs B and C). If it engages, Malaysia likely would do so
quietly behind the scenes and without necessarily informing
us.
KEITH