Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RIYADH586
2008-04-07 13:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
SAUDI FM: RECOGNITION OF KOSOVO WILL TAKE MORE TIME
how-toVZCZCXRO5217 OO RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV DE RUEHRH #0586 0981327 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 071327Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8157 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 0695 RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA PRIORITY 0010 RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH PRIORITY 9475
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 000586
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO EUR/SCE AND NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2013
TAGS: EU EUN PGOV PREL SA SR UNMIK YI
SUBJECT: SAUDI FM: RECOGNITION OF KOSOVO WILL TAKE MORE TIME
REF: A. SECSTATE 18802
B. RIYADH 298
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 000586
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO EUR/SCE AND NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2013
TAGS: EU EUN PGOV PREL SA SR UNMIK YI
SUBJECT: SAUDI FM: RECOGNITION OF KOSOVO WILL TAKE MORE TIME
REF: A. SECSTATE 18802
B. RIYADH 298
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
1. (C) In a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Saud
al-Faisal on April 6, the Ambassador queried him on the SAG's
intentions regarding the recognition of Kosovo. Saud
responded that Saudi Arabia will likely recognize Kosovo in
"the next few months," but provided no further information on
timing. He explained the SAG had initially delayed
recognition of Kosovo until there was more European unity on
this issue and that he did not want quick Saudi recognition
to appear to make Kosovo appear as an Islamic issue, when it
should be solely a European one. Saud then volunteered that
the Kingdom had been approached by the Russians on this
topic. He informed us he had told the Russians that Saudi
Arabia would not be one of the first nations to recognize
Kosovo, but would "once most of Europe did."
2. (C) COMMENT. The Saudi delay in recognizing Kosovo is
most likely attributable to Russian pressure, with the Saudis
unwilling to potentially jeopardize growing commercial and
military relations with Moscow. That said, eventual Saudi
recognition of Kosovo seems highly likely, probably sometime
this year. END COMMENT.
FRAKER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO EUR/SCE AND NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2013
TAGS: EU EUN PGOV PREL SA SR UNMIK YI
SUBJECT: SAUDI FM: RECOGNITION OF KOSOVO WILL TAKE MORE TIME
REF: A. SECSTATE 18802
B. RIYADH 298
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
1. (C) In a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Saud
al-Faisal on April 6, the Ambassador queried him on the SAG's
intentions regarding the recognition of Kosovo. Saud
responded that Saudi Arabia will likely recognize Kosovo in
"the next few months," but provided no further information on
timing. He explained the SAG had initially delayed
recognition of Kosovo until there was more European unity on
this issue and that he did not want quick Saudi recognition
to appear to make Kosovo appear as an Islamic issue, when it
should be solely a European one. Saud then volunteered that
the Kingdom had been approached by the Russians on this
topic. He informed us he had told the Russians that Saudi
Arabia would not be one of the first nations to recognize
Kosovo, but would "once most of Europe did."
2. (C) COMMENT. The Saudi delay in recognizing Kosovo is
most likely attributable to Russian pressure, with the Saudis
unwilling to potentially jeopardize growing commercial and
military relations with Moscow. That said, eventual Saudi
recognition of Kosovo seems highly likely, probably sometime
this year. END COMMENT.
FRAKER