KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT UNGA

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001060 SIPDIS FOR EUR/SCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2018 TAGS: PREL UNGA UN KV SUBJECT: KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT UNGA REF: A. STATE 105796 ¶B. MADRID 956 Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION ARNOLD A. CHACON, REASONS 1.4B, ¶D. ¶1. (C) Deputy Chief of Mission Chacon spoke October 6 with Spanish MFA Director General for Europe and North America Luis Felipe Fernandez de la Pena to inform him of the U.S. intention to vote against Serbia's ICJ resolution regarding Kosovo. Fernandez de la Pena suggested Spain, which had been planning to abstain, might be leaning toward supporting the resolution. Fernandez de la Pena said the Serbs were looking for time and space as they sought to draw closer to Europe and were trying to isolate radical elements. He described such a move as "wise" noting the breakup of YUGOSLAVIA was still fresh and some (he mentioned the Croatian FM) were concerned about Serbia's stability. By asking for an ICJ opinion that would hopefully be slow in coming, Serbia was buying time. ¶2. (C) Fernandez de la Pena said there was no common EU position as yet but Spain hoped one would emerge. Fernandez de la Pena said Spain was not concerned that the Serbian resolution set any precedent regarding Spain's own domestic regional issues. He then reiterated Spain's position that Kosovo in general set no precedents for Spain. AGUIRRE