HAITI ON RESOLVING KOSOVO'S STATUS

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 000195 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR, DRL, S/CRS, INR/IAA SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PAS AID FOR LAC/CAR TREASURY FOR MAUREEN WAFER E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL HA SUBJECT: HAITI ON RESOLVING KOSOVO'S STATUS REF: STATE 1087 Classified By: Ambassador Janet A. Sanderson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. Ambassador delivered reftel points to Foreign Minister Clerisme January 23. He promised to transmit the USG position to President Preval and Prime Minister Alexis. ¶2. Clerisme was aware of the basic elements of the Kosovo issue, conceded that Kosovo could not be brought back under Serbian rule, understood the need to resolve the Kosovo status question soon, but was unaware of reftel point that Kosovo would likely declare its independence early in 2008 and that the U.S. and many leading EU nations would then recognize Kosovo. Clerisme indicated concern about Russian resistance to Kosovo independence, about the position of China, and how Serbia might react to Kosovo's declaration of independence. Ambassador said there were no definitive answers to any of these questions, but that the Ahtissari plan's comprehensive framework for supervision of Kosovo independence and protection of the Serbian minority in Kosovo was the best formula for regional stability. ¶3. Clerisme's response was at best ambivalent. The Balkans are far from Haitian concerns. We predict that the GOH and President Preval will wait to see how the winds blow, in the Caribbean region and beyond, before coming to a decision on recognition. SANDERSON