Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BUDAPEST249
2009-03-30 13:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Budapest
Cable title:
HUNGARY UNLIKELY TO SUBMIT ICJ BRIEF ON KOSOVO
how-toVZCZCXRO3892 PP RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHYG DE RUEHUP #0249 0891327 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 301327Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4038 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0136
UNCLAS BUDAPEST 000249
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE SEIJI T SHIRATORI AND PAUL PFEUFFER,
EUR/CE JAMIE LAMORE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL AORC SR KV HU ICJ
SUBJECT: HUNGARY UNLIKELY TO SUBMIT ICJ BRIEF ON KOSOVO
REF: SECSTATE 29385
(SBU) In a March 27 meeting to discuss reftel, MFA Director
General of the Third European Department (responsible for the
Western Balkans and Turkey) Istvan Szabo told PolOff that
while the MFA's legal department is still reviewing the
matter, Hungary is unlikely to submit a brief to the
International Court of Justice (ICJ) in support of Kosovo's
declaration of independence. That said, Szabo underscored
Hungary's continuing support for Kosovo's independence,
calling the matter "irreversible." Szabo commented that the
GOH also recognizes its key role in reaching out to the
Serbian government to encourage a closer relationship with
the western European and trans-Atlantic community. As such,
rather than submitting a brief to the ICJ, Hungary views as
more effective its bi-lateral efforts to tell the Serbian
Government at every opportunity that the GOH supports Kosovo,
and it is not in Serbia's long-term interest to hinder the
EULEX mission.
Foley