Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SEOUL292
2008-02-13 22:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
ROK WILL RECOGNIZE KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE, BUT UNDER
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHUL #0292 0442236 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 132236Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8496 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3828 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 8497 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3977 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0221 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 2500 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 0019 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0499 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
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)
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
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