RESOLVING KOSOVO'S STATUS: SURINAME POSITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARAMARIBO 000056 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/SCE J.BLACK; WHA/CAR J.ROSHOLT; INR/IAA R.CARHART EMBASSIES, OVERSEAS MISSIONS, AND USUN FOR POLOFF OR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV UN UNMIK YI EU NS SUBJECT: RESOLVING KOSOVO'S STATUS: SURINAME POSITION REF: SECSTATE 1087 Classified By: DCM Thomas R. Genton; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) DCM met on February 8 with Ms. Rosita Hubard, the Acting Head of the International Organizations Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to discuss Kosovo independence. The MFA does not currently support independence for Kosovo. ¶2. (C) Prior to the meeting Ms. Hubard had consulted with senior MFA policy advisor and former Surinamese Ambassador to the United Nations, Ewald Limon. Hubard stated that territorial integrity and unity of the state &should be maintained and preserved.8 She acknowledged MFA concern for human rights and the security of the people of Kosovo. She added that the MFA &remains seized of this matter,8 and awaits further developments. ¶3. (C) Hubard admitted that the MFA was still uncertain about some (unspecified) aspects of the Kosovo situation, pointing out that even some members of the U.S. Congress were undecided on the matter. DCM explained that the Congressional statements and resolutions provided only a sense of the Congress and did not carry the weight of law; however, the USG favors supervised independence, as proposed in the Ahtisaari plan, to provide clarity about Kosovo,s future. ¶4. (C) Hubard declined to comment or speculate on what developments might lead the GOS to favor independence for Kosovo. SCHREIBER HUGHES