Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SINGAPORE153
2008-02-12 07:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Singapore
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR URGES SINGAPORE TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO
how-toVZCZCXYZ0004 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHGP #0153 0430714 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 120714Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4842 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2743 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5859 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 6433 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0039 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 0010 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0173 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
C O N F I D E N T I A L SINGAPORE 000153
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SEIJI SHIRATORI, KOSOVO LEAD DESK OFFICE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2018
TAGS: PREL UN UNMIK PGOV YI EU SN
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR URGES SINGAPORE TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO
REF: STATE 13716
Classified By: Ambassador Patricia L. Herbold; reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SINGAPORE 000153
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SEIJI SHIRATORI, KOSOVO LEAD DESK OFFICE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2018
TAGS: PREL UN UNMIK PGOV YI EU SN
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR URGES SINGAPORE TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO
REF: STATE 13716
Classified By: Ambassador Patricia L. Herbold; reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 4.
2. (C) The Ambassador met with Singapore MFA Permanent
Secretary Peter Ho on February 12 to urge Singapore to
SIPDIS
recognize Kosovo immediately after Kosovo declares
independence. She delivered reftel points, emphasizing the
high priority the U.S. Government attaches to the issue. The
Ambassador stressed that the United States and key European
states intend to recognize Kosovo within hours of an
independence declaration. She urged Singapore to do the
same. Ho said he had not yet studied the issue carefully,
but Singapore is considering its position on Kosovo
independence. He expressed concern that Kosovo independence
could set a bad precedent internationally, encouraging other
places to declare independence unilaterally. Ho noted that
there is disagreement on the Kosovo issue within the UN.
Among the P-5, Russia is opposed. MFA Europe Director
Lawrence Anderson, who accompanied Ho, noted that China may
also oppose Kosovo independence because Beijing may perceive
implications for the Taiwan issue. The Ambassador used
reftel points to make it clear that Kosovo is a special case
and should not be seen as a precedent for other issues. This
is the final chapter of Yugoslavia's non-consensual breakup.
Reintegration with Serbia is impossible. Supervised
independence under the Ahtisaari Plan is the only viable
outcome for Kosovo, she stated.
3. (C) Ho agreed to consider the U.S. request carefully as "a
matter of importance to the United States and other friends."
He expressed strong interest in finding out which countries,
especially in Asia, intend to recognize Kosovo's
independence. The DCM, accompanying the Ambassador, said the
USG cannot speak for other countries and urged Singapore to
seek information directly from other countries on their
positions. He added that it is clear that the United States
and other key countries around the world will recognize
Kosovo once Kosovo declares independence.
4. (C) Action request: In response to Ho's request, please
provide, if possible, additional information we can share
with Singapore on which countries, particularly in Asia,
intend to recognize an independent Kosovo. End action
request.
Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm
HERBOLD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SEIJI SHIRATORI, KOSOVO LEAD DESK OFFICE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2018
TAGS: PREL UN UNMIK PGOV YI EU SN
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR URGES SINGAPORE TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO
REF: STATE 13716
Classified By: Ambassador Patricia L. Herbold; reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 4.
2. (C) The Ambassador met with Singapore MFA Permanent
Secretary Peter Ho on February 12 to urge Singapore to
SIPDIS
recognize Kosovo immediately after Kosovo declares
independence. She delivered reftel points, emphasizing the
high priority the U.S. Government attaches to the issue. The
Ambassador stressed that the United States and key European
states intend to recognize Kosovo within hours of an
independence declaration. She urged Singapore to do the
same. Ho said he had not yet studied the issue carefully,
but Singapore is considering its position on Kosovo
independence. He expressed concern that Kosovo independence
could set a bad precedent internationally, encouraging other
places to declare independence unilaterally. Ho noted that
there is disagreement on the Kosovo issue within the UN.
Among the P-5, Russia is opposed. MFA Europe Director
Lawrence Anderson, who accompanied Ho, noted that China may
also oppose Kosovo independence because Beijing may perceive
implications for the Taiwan issue. The Ambassador used
reftel points to make it clear that Kosovo is a special case
and should not be seen as a precedent for other issues. This
is the final chapter of Yugoslavia's non-consensual breakup.
Reintegration with Serbia is impossible. Supervised
independence under the Ahtisaari Plan is the only viable
outcome for Kosovo, she stated.
3. (C) Ho agreed to consider the U.S. request carefully as "a
matter of importance to the United States and other friends."
He expressed strong interest in finding out which countries,
especially in Asia, intend to recognize Kosovo's
independence. The DCM, accompanying the Ambassador, said the
USG cannot speak for other countries and urged Singapore to
seek information directly from other countries on their
positions. He added that it is clear that the United States
and other key countries around the world will recognize
Kosovo once Kosovo declares independence.
4. (C) Action request: In response to Ho's request, please
provide, if possible, additional information we can share
with Singapore on which countries, particularly in Asia,
intend to recognize an independent Kosovo. End action
request.
Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm
HERBOLD