ROK REITERATES SUPPORT FOR KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 000330 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2018 TAGS: PREL UN UNMIK PGOV YI EU KV KS SUBJECT: ROK REITERATES SUPPORT FOR KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE, BUT WILL RECOGNIZE UNDER NEW ROK PRESIDENT REF: STATE 16319 Classified By: Amb. Alexander Vershbow. Reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) The Ambassador noted that the U.S. had recognized Kosovo and again urged the ROKG follow suit as soon as possible in a February 19 telephone call with Deputy Foreign Minister Shim Yoon-joe. Shim said that the ROK position remained unchanged: it supported Kosovo's independence and expected to recognize it soon after February 25, the date of the inauguration of President-elect Lee Myung-bak. The timing was complicated, said Shim, because the Foreign Minister-designate had yet to begin his nomination process. Having had continued contact with the transition team on this issue, Shim said he expected the ROK to recognize Kosovo by mid-March, after the new Foreign Minister came into office. Shim stated that the outgoing Roh administration was unlikely to act on this issue. ¶2. (C) When the Ambassador pressed for the ROK to make a public statement that affirmed its support for Kosovo's independence, Shim demurred, saying that he had to coordinate the position with the transition team. Shim noted that there was no consensus in the EU on Kosovo's recognition, and that while very few Asian states took the U.S. position, the PRC had stated its opposition to recognizing Kosovo. The Ambassador replied that the U.S. never anticipated full EU consensus, but expected that the majority of EU countries would recognize Kosovo individually. As for the lack of Asian support, the Ambassador emphasized that that was precisely why we were seeking the support of close Asian allies such as the ROK. ¶3. (C) In a follow-up conversation with the Ambassador on February 20, Deputy FM Shim reaffirmed the Koreans' support for Kosovo independence, and apologized for a story in the Korea Times quoting the MOFAT spokesman as taking a neutral, wait-and-see position. (NOTE: Spokesman Cho Hee-yong was quoted as saying "We are now closely watching the international community's reaction... and it's not the right time to give diplomatic recognition to Kosovo or not." Cho went on to say that "Korea will make its decision only after a thorough study based on national interest, reflecting the general opionion of the international community.") Shim said he had "chewed out" the MOFAT spokesman and would seek to set the record straight. VERSHBOW