URUGUAY: NO DECISION YET ON KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L MONTEVIDEO 000494 SIPDIS FOR KOSOVO DESK OFFICERS SEIJI SHIRATORI AND WILLIAM TOMLYANOVICH E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2018 TAGS: PREL UNAUS UNGA KV UY SUBJECT: URUGUAY: NO DECISION YET ON KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT UNGA REF: STATE 91098 Classified By: DCM ROBIN MATTHEWMAN, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) & (D) ¶1. (C) MFA Europe director Minister Alfaro Malmierca told Emboff September 2 that Uruguay has not yet decided how it will respond to Serbia's proposal to refer the question of the lawfulness of Kosovo's declaration of independence to the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion. Uruguay has always defended territorial integrity and national sovereignty, Malmierca said. However, Uruguay also supports the principle of self-determination, and will therefore need to weigh carefully the merits of those competing principles in this case. Malmierca pointed out that Uruguay has traditionally acted with caution with regard to issues involving great powers, meaning that its decision will likely be made at the last minute and in consultation with regional partners. ¶2. (C) Malmierca noted that Albania's ambassador to Uruguay and Serbia's charge d'affaires had already been in to see him on this issue. He had not yet been contacted by any other missions. Baxter