MALAYSIA NOT READY YET TO FORMALLY RECOGNIZE KOSOVO

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000224 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR EUR/SCE AND EAP/MTS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV UN UNMIK EU MY SUBJECT: MALAYSIA NOT READY YET TO FORMALLY RECOGNIZE KOSOVO REF: A. STATE 30452 ¶B. KUALA LUMPUR 142 ¶C. KUALA LUMPUR 121 ¶D. KUALA LUMPUR 111 Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark, reason 1.4 (b and d). ¶1. (C) With the unavailability of more senior Malaysian officials, Political Section Chief delivered ref A demarche on March 27 to Principal Assistant Secretary Zakhir, who is currently responsible for Kosovo issues in the Foreign Ministry's European Division. Zakhir responded that the Malaysian government had not moved forward yet with formal recognition of Kosovo and that this step would require a decision by the Cabinet, which the Prime Minister has only recently formed following Malaysia's March 8 elections. The new Foreign Minister Rais Yatim had not yet examined the Kosovo issue. In the meantime, Malaysian officials continued to monitor closely the "situation in Belgrade," which would weigh heavily on Malaysia's decision to extend formal recognition, Zakhir implied. Zakhir downplayed the significance of the OIC Summit in Dakar in relation to supporting Kosovo's independence. ¶2. (SBU) Post will continue to seek opportunities with senior Malaysian officials to urge Malaysia's formal recognition of Kosovo's independence. KEITH