EU MEMBERS OF CDG-1 CONCERNED ABOUT KOSOVO

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000137

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSC KOSOVO
SUBJECT: EU MEMBERS OF CDG-1 CONCERNED ABOUT KOSOVO
RECOGNITION COORDINATION


Classified By: Ambassador Alejandro Wolff, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary. Several EU states shared with USUN on
February 13 concern that the EU may have difficulties
producing a "common platform" enabling member states to
bilaterally recognize Kosovo's sovereignty following Kosovo's
declaration of independence (DI). All appreciate that delay
between DI and recognitions would leave Secretary General Ban
exposed to Russian demands that the DI be voided before
recognitions can be effected. They insist, nevertheless,
that dissension within the EU means that EU political
coordinators cannot prepare the issue for consideration by
their foreign ministers before DI. The net result is that we
are facing a DI-recognitions gap of probably 24 hours. The
Council agreed to convene on February 14 in a private meeting
format (no TV, no press) with Serbian FM Jeremic
participating. We anticipate that Russia will also call an
emergency session upon DI issuance at which the Council's
continued deadlock on Kosovo's final status will once again
make itself obvious by virtue of member interventions and
comments to the press. End summary.

Easy Victory On Format Of Thursday Meeting


2. (SBU) In Security Council consultations held February 13
to discuss the format of a February 14 meeting requested by
Serbia, Russia quickly acceded to a private meeting that will
be closed to the press. Serbia, represented by FM Jeremic,
will be the only non-Council member invited to participate.
China, South Africa and other Security Council members seemed
to react with relief to the suggestion of a private meeting
and agreement was reached quickly. Russia did not seek a
Secretariat briefing for Thursday's private meeting.

SIPDIS

CDG-1 Countries Believe UNSC Emergency Session Important To
GAERC


3. (C) In an ambassadorial-level CDG-1 meeting (U.S., UK,
France, Italy, Croatia, Germany) plus Slovenia following the
consultations, French DPR LaCroix expressed concern that EU
foreign ministers may not be able to reach a common platform
within the GAERC freeing member states to recognize Kosovo.
He explained that GAERC political directors can't tee the
matter up for the ministers until the DI is actually issued
because some members (Cyprus, Greece, Spain) are refusing to
engage before then.


4. (C) France was joined by other EU Council members in
saying that the Security Council remaining blocked is
important to enabling the EU to step forward generally.
Participants agreed that blockage could best be shown by
making a group press statement after the emergency session
Russia is expected to call upon DI. (Note: CDG-1 countries
joined by the EU presidency issued statements in the same
manner after Council sessions in July and December.)
Amassador Wolff pointed out that a joint statement would also
allow the passing of a message to non-Council states
considering recognition that the Kosovo case is sui generis.
UKUN political coordinator Johnston warned that the EU cannot
make demonstration of such a blockage essential to
recognitions because we can't be sure Russia will even call a
meeting. (COMMENT. A failure of EU foreign ministers to
produce a common platform would create a gap between DI and
recognitions of approximately 24 hours, after which several
members assure us they would proceed to recognition anyway.
SYG Ban, however, could be exposed to serious Russian
pressure to annul the DI during the interim. END COMMENT.)


5. (SBU) Participants also agreed that individual national
statements to the press following the February 14 session
could also be useful to the EU recognition process if they
indicate that nothing relevant has changed since the
Council's December 19 and January 16 sessions on Kosovo.
WOLFF