Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08OTTAWA251
2008-02-19 22:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:  

FOREIGN MINISTER BERNIER ON KOSOVO

Tags:  PREL KV YI EU CA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1821
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DE RUEHOT #0251 0502229
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 192229Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7328
INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000251 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2018
TAGS: PREL KV YI EU CA
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER BERNIER ON KOSOVO

REF: OTTAWA 246

Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000251

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2018
TAGS: PREL KV YI EU CA
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER BERNIER ON KOSOVO

REF: OTTAWA 246

Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) The Ambassador reached Canadian Foreign Minister
Bernier by phone in Colombia (the FM is on a Latin America
visit). Saying he had been asked by the Secretary to call,
Ambassador strongly urged Canada to join the U.S. and its
other allies in recognizing Kosovo's independence. Minister
Bernier stated that Canada's government had decided not to be
in the first wave of countries and is still considering its
position. Canada may be in the "second wave" or the "third
wave," but the FM said no decision has been made at this
point.


2. (C) Bernier told the Ambassador that Quebec and its
separatist movement are the hindrance for Canada. He
recognizes that Kosovo and Quebec are completely different
situations, but the government must tread carefully on
anything touching Quebec separatism -- especially with the
possibility of an early federal election. (Note: Parti
Quebecois politicians have been publicly asserting that early
acceptance of Kosovo's independence declaration is, in fact,
a precedent for an independent Quebec. End note)

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WILKINS