Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TELAVIV382
2008-02-14 14:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:
ISRAEL WILL TAKE A WAIT AND SEE APPROACH WITH
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHTV #0382 0451455 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 141455Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5438 INFO RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 0007 RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA PRIORITY 0044 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS BE PRIORITY RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE VIENNA AU PRIORITY 0119 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 6515 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0164
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 000382
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2018
TAGS: REL UN UNMIK PGOV YI EU
SUBJECT: ISRAEL WILL TAKE A WAIT AND SEE APPROACH WITH
KOSOVO
REF: A. STATE 1087
B. TEL AVIV 167
C. STATE 13716
D. STATE 15111
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Luis Moreno, reason 1.4 (b) and
(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 000382
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2018
TAGS: REL UN UNMIK PGOV YI EU
SUBJECT: ISRAEL WILL TAKE A WAIT AND SEE APPROACH WITH
KOSOVO
REF: A. STATE 1087
B. TEL AVIV 167
C. STATE 13716
D. STATE 15111
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Luis Moreno, reason 1.4 (b) and
(d)
1. (SBU) On February 14, PolOff delivered demarche (ref C) to
Zvi Rav-Ner, Director of the MFA Central Europe Department.
Rav-Ner explained that the GOI had decided not to be in the
first wave of recognition, but would instead follow the
situation closely and decide what actions to take as
appropriate.
2. (C) He said Israel was well aware of the position of the
U.S. and key European countries regarding quick recognition,
and he pointed out that Israel has maintained strong ties
with Kosovo, meeting with its leaders and providing
substantial aid during the crisis in Kosovo in 1999. He also
underlined that Israel recognizes the advantage of adding a
moderate Muslim state to the international community.
3. (C) However, Rav-Ner said, Israel also has good ties with
Serbia, diplomatically and economically, which it has
maintained for some time. The Serbs frequently tell Israel
that "Kosovo is Serbia's Jerusalem." While Rav-Ner admitted
that this analogy is deeply flawed, he pointed out that the
GOI, in principle, is "against enforcing imposed solutions
developed from the outside."
4. (C) In a conversation with PolOff on February 6, Deputy
Director of the UN Political Affairs Department Gershon Kedar
(protect) said that the Foreign Minister of Russia had
pressed FM Livni directly on this issue. He said Livni
assured the Russian FM that Israel would not be in the first
wave of countries recognizing Kosovo, but may recognize
Kosovo after that, depending on the situation. Hillel
Newman, FM Livni's principle foreign policy advisor for
Europe, also told PolOff on February 14 that the Foreign
Minister has been very firm in this position in meetings with
the Foreign Minister of Serbia and the Prime Minister of
Albania.
5. (C) COMMENT: While Serbia's attempts to compare Kosovo
with Jerusalem are not likely to gain traction with Israel,
it is true that Israel does not like the idea of the
international community pushing a solution that has not been
agreed to by both parties-- especially one that originated
with the UN. Russia has engaged directly with FM Livni on
this issue, so our demarche may require follow-up from the
Department. END COMMENT.
********************************************* ********************
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv
You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website.
********************************************* ********************
JONES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2018
TAGS: REL UN UNMIK PGOV YI EU
SUBJECT: ISRAEL WILL TAKE A WAIT AND SEE APPROACH WITH
KOSOVO
REF: A. STATE 1087
B. TEL AVIV 167
C. STATE 13716
D. STATE 15111
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Luis Moreno, reason 1.4 (b) and
(d)
1. (SBU) On February 14, PolOff delivered demarche (ref C) to
Zvi Rav-Ner, Director of the MFA Central Europe Department.
Rav-Ner explained that the GOI had decided not to be in the
first wave of recognition, but would instead follow the
situation closely and decide what actions to take as
appropriate.
2. (C) He said Israel was well aware of the position of the
U.S. and key European countries regarding quick recognition,
and he pointed out that Israel has maintained strong ties
with Kosovo, meeting with its leaders and providing
substantial aid during the crisis in Kosovo in 1999. He also
underlined that Israel recognizes the advantage of adding a
moderate Muslim state to the international community.
3. (C) However, Rav-Ner said, Israel also has good ties with
Serbia, diplomatically and economically, which it has
maintained for some time. The Serbs frequently tell Israel
that "Kosovo is Serbia's Jerusalem." While Rav-Ner admitted
that this analogy is deeply flawed, he pointed out that the
GOI, in principle, is "against enforcing imposed solutions
developed from the outside."
4. (C) In a conversation with PolOff on February 6, Deputy
Director of the UN Political Affairs Department Gershon Kedar
(protect) said that the Foreign Minister of Russia had
pressed FM Livni directly on this issue. He said Livni
assured the Russian FM that Israel would not be in the first
wave of countries recognizing Kosovo, but may recognize
Kosovo after that, depending on the situation. Hillel
Newman, FM Livni's principle foreign policy advisor for
Europe, also told PolOff on February 14 that the Foreign
Minister has been very firm in this position in meetings with
the Foreign Minister of Serbia and the Prime Minister of
Albania.
5. (C) COMMENT: While Serbia's attempts to compare Kosovo
with Jerusalem are not likely to gain traction with Israel,
it is true that Israel does not like the idea of the
international community pushing a solution that has not been
agreed to by both parties-- especially one that originated
with the UN. Russia has engaged directly with FM Livni on
this issue, so our demarche may require follow-up from the
Department. END COMMENT.
********************************************* ********************
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv
You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website.
********************************************* ********************
JONES