KOSOVO: FOR CHIEFS OF MISSION -- INSTRUCTIONS

UNCLAS STATE 016244 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNSC PREL YI SUBJECT: KOSOVO: FOR CHIEFS OF MISSION -- INSTRUCTIONS FOR DEMARCHE ON UNSC DELIBERATIONS TO EAP POSTS REF: 07 STATE 166909 ¶1. (U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified -- please protect accordingly. ¶2. (U) NIACT precedents requested due to the scheduled emergency UN Security Council debate on the situation in Kosovo scheduled for Sunday, February 17 in New York. ¶3. (SBU) The Department requests that Chiefs of Mission in Security Council member capitals listed as action addressees deliver the following demarche at the highest appropriate level as soon as possible in advance of the scheduled Security Council meetings on the situation in Kosovo scheduled for Sunday and Monday. This demarche aims to convince UNSC members to avoid further unnecessary and unproductive debate in the Security Council that might discourage other countries from recognizing Kosovo. ¶4. (U) Posts may draw on reftel for further background on Kosovo, the history of UNSC engagement on the issue, and the proposals of UN Special Envoy Martii Ahtisaari. OBJECTIVES -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Department instructs posts to pursue the following objectives: -- Inform host governments that we expect Kosovo to shortly declare independence, and that a significant number of countries will recognize Kosovo shortly thereafter. -- Stress that as a result of the new facts on the ground and the circumstances leading to this moment, with the European Union taking the lead on a difficult European issue, the international community is now positioned to move beyond the history of Yugoslavia's violent breakup, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against civilians in Kosovo. After years of stalemate, the international community now has a chance to stabilize the region and provide the people of Kosovo and Serbia the opportunity to taker their rightful place in an integrated Europe. -- Impress on host governments that with the Security Council clearly divided and unable to take further constructive action, fruitless debate will only hinder the efforts to assure a stable and prosperous future for the people of newly independent Kosovo and Serbia. -- Stress that UNSC Resolution 1244 does not bar Kosovo's declaration of independence and that supervised independence for Kosovo will not establish a precedent. The collapse of Yugoslavia involved a unique combination of circumstances found nowhere else. -- Urge host governments to take these points into consideration as they prepare for the upcoming debates in the Security Council, and ask for their support in limiting further unnecessary and unproductive Council debate. -- Stress that this matter is of the utmost importance for the U.S. FOR BEIJING -------------- ¶6. Post may use its discretion in deciding whether to deliver this demarche. RICE