SLOVENIA PREPARING TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000078 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/ERA, EUR/NCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2018 TAGS: PREL UN UNMIK PGOV YI EUN KV SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA PREPARING TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO REF: STATE 16319 Classified By: Charge Maryruth Coleman, Reasons 1.4 (b,d) Slovenia Will Recognize Kosovo -------------- ¶1. (C) On February 19, Charge met with an expansive FM Rupel to urge Slovenia to recognize Kosovo as quickly as possible, per reftel. Observing that Charge was "preaching to the choir," FM Rupel sketched out Slovenia's plans for recognition. According to Rupel, Slovenia's Cabinet will meet on February 21 to decide on recognition; the government would then send its proposal to Parliament; Parliament's Foreign Relations Committee is scheduled to meet February 26; and then the Committee will send the proposal to the plenary session of Parliament. Rupel was hopeful that Slovenia would be able to finish the process within ten days. He noted that Slovenia would publicly announce its intent to recognize on February 21 after the Cabinet meeting. Pleased that EU Unity Preserved -------------- ¶2. (C) In response to Charge's praise for the leadership by Slovenia and the FM in coordinating the EU's reaction to Kosovo's declaration, Rupel said that he was pleased that the EU had reached a common position without destroying EU unity. He stressed the difficult negotiations that had occurred over the various texts and noted that, fortunately, the Spanish proposed text was not bad and they were able to use it as the basis for a common position. He reviewed the text of the conclusions and explained that Commissioner Rehn had pushed to include the sentence asking "the Commission to use community instruments to promote economic and political development and to propose to the broader region concrete measures in order to advance in that direction," which lays the groundwork for the donors conference planned for May. Dismayed with Lack of Serbian Protection of Slovenian Embassy -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) FM Rupel emphasized his displeasure that the "Serbian police just didn't do their job" in protecting Slovenia's embassy in Belgrade, where protesters entered and caused significant damage on February 17. Southeast Europe Division Director Leon Marc told us that the security was "inadequate," the police failed to notify Slovenia when the protesters, followed by the police, entered the Embassy, and the police refused to do a bomb check that night, insisting that they wait until the next day. FM Rupel noted that the Serbian response was "incredible." Serbia has not issued an apology, although Rupel had spoken with FM Jeremic, who had just told him not to worry. Although the Slovenian diplomats did not have a place to work, their Ambassador had met with Slovenian business leaders in Belgrade, who were pressuring Slovenia not to recognize Kosovo. FM Rupel noted the assurances he had told the media - that Slovenia's Import-Export Bank would cover any losses stemming from this. He commented that he expected that the Serbian government was capable of protecting people and property. Possible Movement on Macedonia Name Issue -------------- ¶4. (C) FM Rupel noted his sense that Macedonia and Greece were heading for a compromise with regard to the Name issue in order to avert a Greek veto of a NATO invitation. He said the Macedonians had sent a message through the Defense Ministers that they could accept "Democratic Republic of Macedonia" or "Sovereign Republic of Macedonia." He added, however, that the U.S. had more clout in Macedonia. He stated that he had discussed the need for flexibility three or four times with the Macedonian foreign minister and prime minister. COLEMAN