MALTA RECOGNIZES KOSOVO'S INDEPENDENCE

UNCLAS VALLETTA 000358 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/WE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MT SUBJECT: MALTA RECOGNIZES KOSOVO'S INDEPENDENCE REF: A. VALLETTA 294 ¶B. VALLETTA 314 ¶1. August 21, Malta announced its recognition of Kosovo as an independent state. The GoM sent a letter to the President of Kosovo, Fatmir Sejdiu and the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci effectively announcing their recognition of Kosovo's independence. ¶2. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tonio Borg stated that by acknowledging Kosovo as an independent state, Malta was joining both various European states and the world as there was no alternative following the events that took place over the past ten years in Kosovo and in the region. ¶3. Borg had repeatedly assured Ambassador Bordonaro that the announcement would be forthcoming (Reftel A). July 7, Borg briefed the Parliament's Foreign and European Affairs Committee on the issue of Kosovo and recommended recognition in that meeting. The timing was delayed by a few weeks due to the request by the Serbian Foreign Minister (Reftel B). BORDONARO