BRUNEI STILL CONSIDERING KOSOVO RECOGNITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000031 DEPT FOR EUR/SCE (SHIRATORIS/TOMLYANOVICHW) DEPT FOR EAP/MTS/COPPOLAMG E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV ICJ KVIR AORC BX SUBJECT: BRUNEI STILL CONSIDERING KOSOVO RECOGNITION REF: STATE 11928 Classified By: DCM John McIntyre for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 1) (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador Todd and DCM McIntyre have brought the matter of recognition to GoB officials repeatedly over the past few months. Ambassador Todd will be speaking with Deputy Foreign Minister Pehin Lim Jock Seng next week and demarche points will be delivered. Post will report via SepTel. Brunei is still considering recognizing Kosovo's independence but will likely not do so in the near future. End Summary LIMITED RESPONSE FROM OTHER MISSIONS -------------- 2) (C) DCM approached the British, French, German, and Australian embassies to determine if they would wish to conduct joint demarches. The British noted that Pehin Lim had already been demarched during his recent visit to London and had stated that Brunei is considering the issue but is awaiting the results of the ICJ tribunal. The British did emphasis similar points as reftel concerning the ICJ but to no avail. The German, French, and Australians have so far not given any indication they would be willing to conduct a joint demarche. KOSOVAR IN BRUNEI -------------- 3) (C) The issue of Kosovar recognition is also one that Embassy Brunei personnel are facing. The spouse of the DCM is a Kosovar citizen. We believe she is the only Kosovar in Brunei and GoB officials we have spoken to agree. The issue of recognition of Kosovo has also arisen in the context of diplomatic visa placed in a Kosovar passport. GoB officials are currently deciding how to issue a diplomatic visa to a Kosovar possessing a Kosovar passport. (NOTE: Previously the diplomatic visa was issued in an UNMIK travel document which will expire in June, 2009. End Note.) GoB officials, to date, have not given the embassy a formal response on how the visa will be issued. COMMENT -------------- 4) (C) It is unlikely the GoB will move from its current position on Kosovo independence. Even with Malaysia's recent recognition of Kosovo, the consensus opinion of Embassy and the broader diplomatic community in Brunei is that the GoB will wait till more OIC members recognize Kosovo and/or for the results of the ICJ advisory opinion. In addition, given the GoB cautious response to the relatively simple issue of issuing a diplomatic visa to a Kosovar, this is another indication that the GoB is not prepared, at this time, to recognize Kosovo's independence. End Comment TODD