MACEDONIA: KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT UNGA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SKOPJE 000614

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2018
TAGS: PREL UNGA UN KV MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT UNGA

REF: A. STATE 105796

B. STATE 195796

C. STATE 91908

Classified By: DCM THOMAS J. NAVRATIL, FOR REASONS 1.5 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Ambassador Reeker made points in reftels to Foreign
Minister Milososki on the evening of Oct. 6. DCM followed up
with DPM Bocevski on Oct. 7. Macedonia will not support the
resolution. Milososki and Bosevski indicated that although
Macedonia had not yet made its final decision, it most likely
will abstain, following the lead of the majority of EU
countries. We pressed for Macedonia to stand with us and
vote against. Embassy's view is that an abstention is most
probable, particularly given our expectation that Macedonia
will soon recognize Kosovo's independence and is seeking to
soften the impact on Serbia to minimize retaliation.
Reeker