Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RIYADH1576
2008-10-22 07:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
SAUDIS STILL NOT READY TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO
how-toVZCZCXRO1079 OO RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHRH #1576 2960748 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 220748Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9389 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI IMMEDIATE 2446 RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA IMMEDIATE 0017 RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH IMMEDIATE 9803 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 0092 RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9390 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0016 RUMICEA/USCINCCENT INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 001576
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2018
TAGS: OTRA PREL
SUBJECT: SAUDIS STILL NOT READY TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO
REF: SESTATE 111313
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission David Rundell
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
(C) Per reftel,Ambassador Fraker raised the issue of Saudi
recognition of Kosovo in an October 18 meeting with Foreign
Minister Saud al-Faisal. In light of the UAE's recent
decision to recognize Kosovo, the Ambassador conveyed USG
hope that Saudi Arabia was now prepared to follow suit.
Prince Saud explained that, in view of Russian concerns, the
SAG had judged it wise to delay its recognition of Kosovo
until all the European countries had done so. "Now that we
have reached that stage," he said, "there is no reason not to
recognize Kosovo." However, the Saudis wanted to avoid
taking action that would leave the Russians feeling isolated
or provoke Russian retaliation in another arena. "Russia is
in a strange mood," he worried, "and we think this is
dangerous." Until present, most Muslim countries had not yet
acted, and without saying so, Saud implied that the SAG would
likely wait for more political cover from fellow Arab and
Muslim countries before acting.
FRAKER