DEMARCHE ON SUBMITTING BRIEF TO ICJ ON KOSOVO

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 000831 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA AND EUR/SCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2019 TAGS: AORC PREL ICJ KV JO SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON SUBMITTING BRIEF TO ICJ ON KOSOVO DELIVERED: JORDAN STILL CONSIDERING ITS OPTIONS REF: A. STATE 29385 ¶B. AMMAN 705 Classified By: Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) PolOff on April 5 delivered Ref A demarche urging Jordan to submit a brief supporting Kosovo in the case before the International Court of Justice to Mohammed Ensour in the Foreign Minister's Private Office. Ensour asked PolOff to reconcile the U.S. request to do so with our desire that Abkhazia and South Ossetia not be recognized (Ref B). PolOff noted that Russia's recognition of the two separatist regions was inconsistent with UN resolutions, whereas Kosovo independence was rooted in a growing international consensus and was part of the process of the former Yugoslavia's violent breakup. Noting that Jordan may be considering whether and how to recognize Kosovo, PolOff cited Ref A point that submitting a brief could serve as an interim step. Ensour said he would take the matter to the Foreign Minister and also raise it with the Ministry's legal department. ¶2. (C) Ambassador on April 4 met with Chief of the Royal Court Nasser Al-Lozi and Foreign Minister Nasser Joudeh urging that the GOJ move on recognition of Kosovo. They reiterated that Jordan is ready to recognize Kosovo, but is looking for an appropriate time. Post will follow up with the GOJ. Visit Amman's Classified Website at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman Beecroft