BAHAMAS NOT INTERESTED IN KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT

C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 000629 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/SCE SHIRATORI, TOMLYANOVICH E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2018 TAGS: PREL UN UNGA KV BF SUBJECT: BAHAMAS NOT INTERESTED IN KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT UNGA REF: A. STATE 91908 ¶B. NASSAU 145 Classified By: DCM Zuniga-Brown for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C/NF) PolChief delivered reftel demarche points regarding Serbia's proposal to refer the question of Kosovo's declaration of independence to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for an advisory opinion to newly-appoined Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary (PS),Dr. Patricia Rodgers, September 2. PS Rodgers evinced no interest in or prior knowledge of the issue. Referring to Bahamian non-recognition of Kosovo, PS Rodgers said the GCOB was "still assessing" its position. She indicated the GCOB would likely await a CARICOM consensus, mentioning that the issue was raised at a recent CARICOM meeting. She made no substantive comments in reply to PolChief's query about what objections may exist, simply saying no determination had been made. Commenting separately on the situation in Georgia, she said the GCOB was aware but that it was not a priority issue. ¶2. (C/NF) COMMENT: The PS's statements reflect the overall GCOB position of taking polite notice but showing no motivation or inclination to take action on distant geopolitical issues unconnected to specific Bahamian interests or priorities. After positive responses to initial demarches earlier this year on recognizing Kosovo (reftel), Minister of Foreign Affairs Symonette has also referred in conversations with Ambassador Siegel to an unspecified CARICOM position to explain GCOB inaction on Kosovo. END COMMENT. SIEGEL