DEMARCHE RESPONSE: KOSOVO RECOGNITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L MONTEVIDEO 000395 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2018 TAGS: PREL UN UNMIK YI EU KPKO KV UY SUBJECT: DEMARCHE RESPONSE: KOSOVO RECOGNITION REF: A. STATE 69691 ¶B. MONTEVIDEO 18 ¶C. MONTEVIDEO 76 Classified By: DCM Robin Matthewman; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) In response to ref A demarche, MFA Director general for Political Affairs Enrique Fischer told Ambassador that the situation in Kosovo today was the result of many historical decisions in which Uruguay did not participate, and that Uruguay preferred the issue of recognition of Kosovo be handled within the UN system. Uruguay did not intend to declare an early position either for or against recognition of Kosovo, but would seek to balance the two principles of self determination and territorial integrity in its decision. In a follow up conversation, Fischer cited the lack of unanimity in Europe (namely Spain) and Latin American on this issue. He said that Uruguay would be open to encouraging all countries to agree through a consensus building mechanism, perhaps in the UNGA instead of the Security Council. Fischer's comments remain consistent with the responses Post received following earlier demarches on this issue (refs B and C). Baxter