SINGAPORE STILL UNCONVINCED ON KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE

UNCLAS SINGAPORE 000749 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR KOSOVO DESK OFFICERS SEIJI T SHIRATORI OR WILLIAM TONLYANOVICH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV UN UNMIK YI EU KPKO KV SN SUBJECT: SINGAPORE STILL UNCONVINCED ON KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE REF: A. STATE 69691 ¶B. SINGAPORE 195 ¶1. (SBU) Responding to reftel demarche, MFA Europe Directorate Director Lawrence Anderson told us July 1 that Singapore understood the points we had presented on the developing situation in Kosovo but thought that recognition remained a "complex" issue. He indicated Singapore is among "many countries" that are "not entirely convinced" and are waiting to assess what "kind of precedent" Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence would set. Anderson cited China, Russia, Spain, Greece, Indonesia and Vietnam as among countries that have expressed concerns over the declaration. He expressed hope for continued international mediation to find a solution acceptable to all parties. ¶2. (SBU) Regarding participation in the EU-sponsored donors conference in Brussels, Anderson recalled that Singapore had already told us it did not plan to participate (ref B) and said it had not changed its position. Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm HERBOLD