KOSOVO -- PRESSING INDONESIA ON RECOGNITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001531 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, EUR, EUR/SCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV AORC PBTS ID KV SUBJECT: KOSOVO -- PRESSING INDONESIA ON RECOGNITION REF: STATE 94939 Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Mission has urged the GOI to meet with Kosovo representatives on the margins of the upcoming UNGA. Noting that 62 countries have now recognized Kosovo, we again urged Indonesia to take that step. Presidential Palace and Department of Foreign Affairs contacts said they would brief the Office of the Foreign Minister re the U.S. points (the FonMin is slated to represent Indonesia at UNGA). They added that the GOI has no plans to recognize Kosovo at this point. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Mission has made reftel Kosovo-related points to the GOI. On September 14, Pol/C discussed the points with Astari Daenuwy, an international affairs assistant at the Presidential Palace, and with Cicilia Rusdiharini of the Americas Desk at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU). Pol/C urged that Indonesia respond favorably to any Kosovar requests for meetings to be held on the margins of the upcoming UNGA. Pol/C underlined that the U.S. urged Indonesia to recognize Kosovo. Sixty-two countries had already done so, including most recently Jordan. Kosovo is also a member of the World Bank and the IMF. Pol/C stressed that recognizing Kosovo would further stability in the Southeast European region. ¶3. (C) Contacts took the USG points on board. Rusdiharini of DEPLU said she would pass our points to the Office of the Foreign Minister given that FonMin Wirajuda would represent Indonesia at UNGA. Daenuwy and Rusdiharini commented that Indonesia has no plans to recognize Kosovo at this point. Daenuwy remarked that the GOI continues to worry that Kosovo's situation creates a precedent which Indonesia--facing separatist tensions of its own--is deeply concerned with. Pol/C urged that the GOI revisit the issue in the interests of supporting stability and reconciliation in an historically troubled region. OSIUS