CHILE LIKELY TO SUPPORT KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 000907 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2018 TAGS: PGOV UNGA KV CI SUBJECT: CHILE LIKELY TO SUPPORT KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT UNGA REF: A. STATE 105796 ¶B. SANTIAGO 633 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: E/Pol Counselor Juan A. Alsace for reasons 1.4 (b and d) ¶1. (C) E/Pol Counselor October 7 delivered reftel demarche to Eduardo Schott, the MFA's Deputy Director for European Affairs. Noting that the Embassy had repeatedly urged Chile to recognize Kosovo (ref B),E/Pol Counselor argued that even if Chile would not yet take that step, it should recognize that Serbia's proposed resolution is a step backward. The USG is confident that Kosovo's independence is well founded in international law and in facts on the ground. Schott listened attentively and then replied without hesitation that Chile would maintain its stance on not recognizing Kosovo and, moreover, would likely support Serbia's proposed resolution. In the GOC's view a ruling by the ICJ could be an important positive step that would provide juridical certainty including, possibly, that Kosovo's declaration of independence is consistent with international law. That said, Schott observed, Chile will want to see the final draft of Serbia's proposed resolution. A draft based strictly on legal grounds will lead Chile to vote positively; a draft resolution that seeks to interject "political considerations" will not. Schott believed that this would be the Brazilian position as well. ¶2. (C) Schott, who has just returned from five years service in Chile's Vienna embassy, said he is quite familiar with the European and USG view that Kosovo's independence declaration is a "unique" circumstance. But his view - and of the MFA, he stressed - is that Kosovo's action has provided succor to actors in Georgia's breakaway provinces, for example. Chile has not recognized their independence, either. Chile will continue to act with caution, Schott concluded, and will not be found "in the front row" on this matter. SIMONS