Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NEWDELHI2370
2008-09-04 06:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
INDIA CLINGING TO UNSCR 1244 REGARDING KOSOVO
how-toVZCZCXRO4918 OO RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHTRO RUEHYG DE RUEHNE #2370 2480645 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 040645Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3238 INFO RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RUCNUNP/UN PEACEBUILDING COMMISS COLLECTIVE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0001 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2777 RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA 0017 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 1628 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 6856 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 7868
UNCLAS NEW DELHI 002370
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL UN UNGA KV IN
SUBJECT: INDIA CLINGING TO UNSCR 1244 REGARDING KOSOVO
INDEPENDENCE
REF: SECSTATE 91908
UNCLAS NEW DELHI 002370
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL UN UNGA KV IN
SUBJECT: INDIA CLINGING TO UNSCR 1244 REGARDING KOSOVO
INDEPENDENCE
REF: SECSTATE 91908
1. (SBU) PolOffs delivered reftel demarche on the
"Kosovo/International Court of Justice (ICJ) Resolution at
UNGA" to Ministry of External Affairs Director (Central
Europe) M. Sevala Naik on September 03. Naik responded by
referring to India's "long-standing policy" on recognizing
states based on the UN charter, adding that in the case of
Kosovo, India also views the issue under the rubric of UNSCR
1244. Therefore, he indicated, the GOI does not believe
Kosovo has met the criteria of independent statehood at this
time. POLOFF pressed on the specific issue of whether India
would oppose Serbia's move to refer the question of Kosovo's
independence to the ICJ for an opinion, but Naik repeatedly
refused to commit, simply stating that the GOI will support
the decision of UNGA.
2. (SBU) Comment. Kosovo's declaration of independence poses
a challenge for India, pitting New Delhi's natural reluctance
at taking a stand on such issues against the existential
question that recognition of separatist regimes poses for
India because of Kashmir. While Post expects India will
continue to not recognize Kosovo until it has achieved a
formal UN endorsement, we believe India would equally be
loathe to supporting the ICJ referral, given - as alluded to
in reftel - India's concerns over implications of an ICJ
opinion on its own territorial integrity. With Naik
admitting that India has yet to formulate its position on the
ICJ referral from UNGA, Post notes that India's voting
position is routinely decided in New York, and suggests that
we continue to engage on this issue in both New Delhi and New
York.
MULFORD
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL UN UNGA KV IN
SUBJECT: INDIA CLINGING TO UNSCR 1244 REGARDING KOSOVO
INDEPENDENCE
REF: SECSTATE 91908
1. (SBU) PolOffs delivered reftel demarche on the
"Kosovo/International Court of Justice (ICJ) Resolution at
UNGA" to Ministry of External Affairs Director (Central
Europe) M. Sevala Naik on September 03. Naik responded by
referring to India's "long-standing policy" on recognizing
states based on the UN charter, adding that in the case of
Kosovo, India also views the issue under the rubric of UNSCR
1244. Therefore, he indicated, the GOI does not believe
Kosovo has met the criteria of independent statehood at this
time. POLOFF pressed on the specific issue of whether India
would oppose Serbia's move to refer the question of Kosovo's
independence to the ICJ for an opinion, but Naik repeatedly
refused to commit, simply stating that the GOI will support
the decision of UNGA.
2. (SBU) Comment. Kosovo's declaration of independence poses
a challenge for India, pitting New Delhi's natural reluctance
at taking a stand on such issues against the existential
question that recognition of separatist regimes poses for
India because of Kashmir. While Post expects India will
continue to not recognize Kosovo until it has achieved a
formal UN endorsement, we believe India would equally be
loathe to supporting the ICJ referral, given - as alluded to
in reftel - India's concerns over implications of an ICJ
opinion on its own territorial integrity. With Naik
admitting that India has yet to formulate its position on the
ICJ referral from UNGA, Post notes that India's voting
position is routinely decided in New York, and suggests that
we continue to engage on this issue in both New Delhi and New
York.
MULFORD