Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08WINDHOEK320
2008-10-07 11:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Windhoek
Cable title:  

NAMIBIA: UNDECIDED ON KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION, BUT

Tags:  PREL UN UNGA KV WA 
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VZCZCXRO0149
PP RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHWD #0320 2811148
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 071148Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0108
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L WINDHOEK 000320 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2018
TAGS: PREL UN UNGA KV WA
SUBJECT: NAMIBIA: UNDECIDED ON KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION, BUT
STILL AGAINST KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE

REF: STATE 105796

Classified By: Classified By: Charge d'affaires, a.i.
Matt Harrington; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L WINDHOEK 000320

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2018
TAGS: PREL UN UNGA KV WA
SUBJECT: NAMIBIA: UNDECIDED ON KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION, BUT
STILL AGAINST KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE

REF: STATE 105796

Classified By: Classified By: Charge d'affaires, a.i.
Matt Harrington; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Charge d'affaires met with the Namibian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MFA) Permanent Secretary Veiccoh Nghiwete to
deliver reftel demarche on October 6. CDA was accompanied by
poleconoff, while Nghiwete was joined by Deputy Permanent
Secretary Hinyangerwa Asheeke and Deputy Director for
Bilateral Affairs Jerobeam Shaanika. The Permanent Secretary
(PS) responded that Namibia's position toward Kosovo ) that
it does not recognize the country's independence - remains
unchanged. Nghiwete remarked that Kosovo's independence
could have adverse effects on Namibia and other countries on
the African continent. The CDA underscored why we consider
Kosovo a unique case that does not constitute a precedent,
noting the genocide followed by the long period of UN
administration. Nghiwete drew parallels between Kosovo and
the 1999 secessionist movement in Namibia's Caprivi region,
which had been firmly suppressed by the Namibian government.
Asheeke insisted that Kosovo serves as a precedent, pointing
to the recent conflict between Russia and Georgia over South
Ossetia and Abkhazia regions as an inevitable consequence of
Pristina's declaration of independence.


2. (C) Nghiwete explained that the Namibian government (GRN)
had not yet reached a decision on Serbia's UNGA resolution to
refer a question on the legality of Kosovo's declaration of
independence to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
When the CDA pointed out that an ICJ ruling in favor of
Kosovo might actually serve as a potentially difficult
precedent for Namibia (given its Caprivi issue),Nghiwete
shrugged off the significance of such a ruling, noting that
the United Nations had yet to recognize Kosovo.
HARRINGTON