DEMARCHE RESPONSE: KOSOVO RECOGNITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000227 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS FOR EUR/SCE/PFEUFFERP, EAP/MTS/COPPOLAMG E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2019 TAGS: PREL UNGA AORC BX SUBJECT: DEMARCHE RESPONSE: KOSOVO RECOGNITION REF: SECSTATE 94939 Classified By: Charge d' Affaires McIntyre for Reasons 1.4 (b and b) ¶1. (C) Charge d' Affaires (CDA) delivered reftel demarche to Florence Chong, Director, International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). CDA urged Brunei to meet with Kosovo's UN delegation on the margins of the UNGA, in addition to continuing to urge Brunei to formally recognize Kosovo's independence. Ms. Chong did not indicate if the Government of Brunei (GoB) would be willing to met with Kosovo's UN delegation nor if there is any changes in Brunei's current position of not recognizing Kosovo as a sovereign nation. ¶2. (C) COMMENT: Brunei will likely follow the majority opinion of other ASEAN nations regarding recognition of Kosovo. However, Brunei membership in the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the growing number of OIC member states recognizing Kosovo's independence could serve as positive talking points in possible discussions. The GoB will likely not/not change its policy in the near term but depending on regional and OIC positions, there is hope for future recognition. End Comment. MCINTYRE