(C) LATVIAN CABINET AUTHORIZES KOSOVO RECOGNITION;

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000054 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2013 TAGS: PREL KS SUBJECT: (C) LATVIAN CABINET AUTHORIZES KOSOVO RECOGNITION; TIMING UNCLEAR Classified By: Ambassador Catherine Todd Bailey. Reason: 1.4 (d) ¶1. (C) According to Latvian MFA political director Peteris Ustubs, on January 29 the Latvian cabinet approved the recognition by Latvia of an independent Kosovo, but gave FM Riekstins the authority on the timing of the decision. On January 30, the MFA briefed the Foreign and European Affairs Committees of parliament on Kosovo and found no major resistance to recognition when the time comes. Ustubs speculated that Latvia would move in the second wave, after "big EU member states." ¶2. (C) Ustubs expressed appreciation for an Embassy briefing January 21 on legal issues related to Kosovo independence, saying it was very helpful internally and with the parliament. FM Riekstins, he said, still expects that ethnic Russian parties in parliament and the Russian language press here will criticize the decision, but based on USG-provided information and discussions with EU colleagues, Riekstins felt more comfortable with his ability to manage any such criticism. BAILEY