MALTA: FOREIGN MINISTER PUNTS ON KOSOVO RECOGNITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L VALLETTA 000227 SIPDIS EUR/SCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV UN UNMIK MT SUBJECT: MALTA: FOREIGN MINISTER PUNTS ON KOSOVO RECOGNITION REF: A. 1. VALLETTA 0056 ¶B. 2. STATE 13716 ¶C. 3. 07 VALLETTA 470 Classified By: DCM Jason Davis; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) In a May 30 meeting, Ambassador asked new Minister of Foreign Affairs Tonio Borg for an update regarding GoM recognition of Kosovo. The Ambassador reminded the FM that he had earlier (Ref A) told us Malta could recognize Kosovo only after the FM had had a chance to brief Parliament,s European and Foreign Affairs Committee, which at that point had not been formed. The committee had now been formed, so where did things stand? ¶2. (C) Borg confirmed that the committee had been formed several days previously, but said that it would hold its first meeting only "by the end of June." Kosovo would definitely be discussed at that first meeting, Borg promised, adding "I think we will recognize Kosovo -- that it's not so much a question of 'if' as 'when'." But no formal decision could be taken until the committee briefing had taken place. On the timing of a possible GoM recognition of Kosovo, Borg said that "since the government is going to be formed in September" of this year, "we will likely do it then," though he added that he did not view September as a deadline. ¶3. (C) The Ambassador impressed upon the FM the importance of Malta taking a stance as soon as possible, but this merely prompted the FM to launch into a discussion of the downsides of recognition. "Why should we irritate a friendly, pro-EU government in Serbia and risk pushing them into the arms of Russia? Kosovo will never be allowed to join the UN because two member states (Russian and China) are against it. Many of our closest friends in the E.U. -- geographically and in terms of assistance -- are also against it: Spain, Greece and Cyprus. Spain would oppose even if they were the only EU state left in opposition. And why can't northern Kosovo, where the ethnic Serbs live, be given back to Serbia in order to win their support?" Despite all these concerns, he reiterated, "I still think it's a question of when, not if, we will recognize Kosovo." BORDONARO