TARGETING NO-VOTES ON KOSOVO ICJ

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 105808 E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/18 TAGS: PREL UN UNGA KV SUBJECT: TARGETING NO-VOTES ON KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT UNGA REF: A) STATE 91908, B)2008-10-01 ALDAC ON KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT UNGA CLASSIFIED BY EUR ACTING A/S MARCIE RIES; REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (SBU) THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. SEE PARAGRAPH ¶3. THIS DEMARCHE SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH SEPTEL ALDAC LAYING OUT THE RATIONALE FOR U.S. OPPOSITION TO SERBIA'S RESOLUTION TO REFER A QUESTION ON THE LEGALITY OF KOSOVOS DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE TO THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE. THIS DEMARCHE TARGETS COUNTRIES THAT MAY SHARE OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE RESOLUTION AND MAY BE OPEN TO VOTING NO. AMBASSADORS OR CHARGES ARE REQUESTED TO DELIVER THESE POINTS AT THE HIGHEST APPROPRIATE LEVEL. ¶2. (C) THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS DEMARCHE ARE TO: -- SECURE THE SUPPORT OF LIKE-MINDED COUNTRIES IN VOTING AGAINST THE RESOLUTION AND MAKING THEIR OPPOSITION KNOWN DURING THE DEBATE ON OCTOBER 8. ¶3. (SBU) POINTS FOR ALL ACTION ADDRESSEES: -- THE US OPPOSES THE SERBIAN RESOLUTION REFERRING KOSOVOS NATIONHOOD TO THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT IS UNNECESSARY. AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, KOSOVOS SOVEREIGNTY IS IRREVERSIBLE. FORTY-SEVEN COUNTRIES ALREADY HAVE RECOGNIZED KOSOVO. IT CANNOT GO BACK TO SERBIA. -- WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE ICJS REASONING COULD HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR CONFLICTS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD THAT INVOLVE ISSUES SUCH AS THE RIGHT TO SECEDE FROM A COUNTRY OR THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION. THIS IS ANOTHER REASON THAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROPOSED REFERRAL. -- YOU HAVE INDICATED THAT YOU ALSO SHARE RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE RESOLUTION, ITS POTENTIAL NEGATIVE IMPACT ON BALKAN STABILITY, AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR SITUATIONS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. -- WE ASK THAT YOU COORDINATE CLOSELY WITH OUR UN DELEGATION IN NY. -- WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US IN VOTING AGAINST THE RESOLUTION, SEND CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS TO YOUR NEW YORK MISSION TO THAT EFFECT, AND BE WILLING TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST IT DURING THE UNGA DEBATE ON OCTOBER 8. ¶4. (SBU) ADDITIONAL POINT FOR COUNTRIES THAT HAVE RECOGNIZED KOSOVO (BELMOPAN, OUAGADOUGOU, FREETOWN, LOME, TOKYO, MAJURO, APIA, KABUL, OTTAWA, CANBERRA, REYKJAVIK, SEOUL, TIRANA, ZAGREB, ANKARA, BELMOPAN, BOGOTA, MONROVIA, DAKAR, BERN): -- IF THE REFERRAL RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED, WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN A STRONG MESSAGE OF SUPPORT FOR KOSOVOS SOVEREIGNTY. ¶5. (U) POSTS ARE REQUESTED TO REPORT HOST GOVERNMENT POSITIONS FRONT CHANNEL. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT KOSOVO DESK OFFICERS SEIJI T SHIRATORI OR WILLIAM TOMLYANOVICH (202-736- 7729, OR SHIRATORIST@STATE.GOV AND 202-647-4781, OR TOMLYANOVICHWJ@STATE.GOV). RICE