PRIORITY LOBBYING FOR KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT OF SPAIN 000073 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR EUR/SCE AND WHA/CAR E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL TD SUBJECT: PRIORITY LOBBYING FOR KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE REF: SECSTATE 13716 Classified By: Classified by DCM Len Kusnitz; Reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Post carried out reftel demarche February 11 with MFA Permanent Secretary (Vice Foreign Minister equivalent) Edwina Leacock. Along with the other ref points, we stressed the importance of early recognition as a way of helping stabilize southeast Europe. The PermSec listened closely to our presentation, but stated the GOTT had not yet focused on the issue of Kosovo independence. Leacock said she intended to contact her Mission at the UN to get a sense of the broader dynamics of the issue and then would speak with Foreign Minister Gopee-Scoon. When pressed for likely GOTT action, the PermSec merely reiterated that the government had to study the matter, but recognized its urgency. ¶2. (C) Comment: The GOTT often keeps its head down on issues such as this, arguing that it needs to make sure it does not act contrary to whatever CARICOM consensus might exist or (in this case) develop. While it would be out of character for the government to take rapid action, the PermSec's intent to quickly discuss Kosovo independence with the Foreign Minister is a positive. AUSTIN