Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TRIPOLI141
2008-02-21 08:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tripoli
Cable title:
LIBYA LINKS POSITION ON KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE TO RUSSIAN ARMS
VZCZCXRO3356 OO RUEHTRO DE RUEHTRO #0141 0520804 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 210804Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3118 INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0122 RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA IMMEDIATE 0002 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 3597
C O N F I D E N T I A L TRIPOLI 000141
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/UNP (GOLDRICH),NEA/MAG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/21/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV SR EU YI UNMIK UN
SUBJECT: LIBYA LINKS POSITION ON KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE TO RUSSIAN ARMS
SALES
REF: A) STATE 16319, B) TRIPOLI 118, C) TRIPOLI 112
CLASSIFIED BY: Chris Stevens, CDA, Embassy Tripoli, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TRIPOLI 000141
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/UNP (GOLDRICH),NEA/MAG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/21/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV SR EU YI UNMIK UN
SUBJECT: LIBYA LINKS POSITION ON KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE TO RUSSIAN ARMS
SALES
REF: A) STATE 16319, B) TRIPOLI 118, C) TRIPOLI 112
CLASSIFIED BY: Chris Stevens, CDA, Embassy Tripoli, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) In a meeting with MFA Americas Desk Director Muhammad
Matari February 20, P/E Chief noted that there had so far been
no official GOL reaction to Kosovo's recent announcement of
independence and, echoing our previous demarches on the subject
(refs B and C),urged the GOL to recognize Kosovo's
independence. Matari confirmed that the GOL had made no public
statement concerning Kosovo's independence. Matari said the GOL
had deliberately delayed any public reaction, in part because
Russia had, in its demarches on the subject (ref B),linked
future cooperation on Russia-Libya arms sales to the GOL's
position on Kosovo. (Comment: Russia is a major supplier of
weapons to Libya. The GOL has often commented favorably on the
ease with which it has been able to acquire Russian weapons
systems by way of criticizing the comparatively labor-intensive
process attendant to purchasing systems from the U.S. End
comment.)
2. (U) Separately, Post translated into Arabic and forwarded to
the MFA a copy of the White House press release containing the
President's letter to the Kosovar president recognizing Kosovo's
independence.
STEVENS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/UNP (GOLDRICH),NEA/MAG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/21/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV SR EU YI UNMIK UN
SUBJECT: LIBYA LINKS POSITION ON KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE TO RUSSIAN ARMS
SALES
REF: A) STATE 16319, B) TRIPOLI 118, C) TRIPOLI 112
CLASSIFIED BY: Chris Stevens, CDA, Embassy Tripoli, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) In a meeting with MFA Americas Desk Director Muhammad
Matari February 20, P/E Chief noted that there had so far been
no official GOL reaction to Kosovo's recent announcement of
independence and, echoing our previous demarches on the subject
(refs B and C),urged the GOL to recognize Kosovo's
independence. Matari confirmed that the GOL had made no public
statement concerning Kosovo's independence. Matari said the GOL
had deliberately delayed any public reaction, in part because
Russia had, in its demarches on the subject (ref B),linked
future cooperation on Russia-Libya arms sales to the GOL's
position on Kosovo. (Comment: Russia is a major supplier of
weapons to Libya. The GOL has often commented favorably on the
ease with which it has been able to acquire Russian weapons
systems by way of criticizing the comparatively labor-intensive
process attendant to purchasing systems from the U.S. End
comment.)
2. (U) Separately, Post translated into Arabic and forwarded to
the MFA a copy of the White House press release containing the
President's letter to the Kosovar president recognizing Kosovo's
independence.
STEVENS