ROK WILL RECOGNIZE KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE, BUT UNDER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 000292 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2018 TAGS: PREL UN UNMIK PGOV YI EU KS SUBJECT: ROK WILL RECOGNIZE KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE, BUT UNDER WHICH PRESIDENT? REF: STATE 13716 Classified By: Amb. Alexander Vershbow. Reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In a February 13 meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Shim Yoon-joe, the Ambassador stated that Kosovo would declare its independence very soon, and that the U.S. and its EU partners would recognize Kosovo within the first 24 hours of its declaration of independence. The Ambassador urged the ROK similarly to recognize Kosovo within the first 24 hours of its declaration of independence. DFM Shim replied that the ROK would recognize and support Kosovo's independence, but also mentioned that the exact timing of such recognition remained uncertain. The current ROK administration had only 10 days left in its tenure, Shim noted, and might choose not to address this issue in its final days. In addition, President-elect Lee Myung-bak had not yet announced his choice for Foreign Minister. These two factors had created an administrative vacuum that could delay the ROK's recognition of Kosovo, depending on the exact date of independence. ¶2. (C) The Ambassador pointed out that Washington D.C. would view quick recognition of Kosovo from the ROK as a decision that would highlight the incoming administration's desire to strengthen the U.S.-ROK alliance. DFM Shim noted that the ROK would carefully consider this point, and promised to relay this information to President Lee Myung-bak's transition team. ¶3. (C) DFM Shim asked about the specific modality by which the U.S. would recognize Kosovo. Post would appreciate any guidance on this topic. VERSHBOW