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