SPAIN'S VIEWS ON KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT UNGA

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000956 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SEIJI T SHIRATORI AND WILLIAM TOMLYANOVICH E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2018 TAGS: PREL UNGA UN SP KV SUBJECT: SPAIN'S VIEWS ON KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT UNGA REF: STATE 91908 Classified By: DCM Arnold Chacon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On September 3, poloff discussed reftel points with Spanish Subdirector General for Central and Southern Europe Ramon Abaroa Carranza, stressing the potentially adverse consequences of the Serbian UNGA resolution requesting an ICJ advisory opinion on Kosovo's independence. Abaroa agreed that the issue of Kosovo's indendence is a political question, not a legal one, stating that the Government of Spain does not support Serbia's action and will abstain should the issue come to a vote in the General Assembly. He acknowledged that the GOS's concern stems in part from Spain's own separatist issues (referring to Basque and Catalonia regional tensions). ¶2. (C) Abaroa said that the GOS has had several informal discussions with Serbia on this issue. According to Abaroa, Spain wholely supports Serbia's accession into the EU and thinks that the ICJ request is contrary to Serbia's eventual integration. Abaroa said that Spain acknowledges that many EU member states have recognized Kosovo's independence and that "Serbia cannot go back." According to Abaroa, and despite Spain's refusal to recognize Kosovo, asking the ICJ whether said independence is legal, at this point, serves no good purpose. Aguirre