ALBANIA SUBMITTING DRAFT RESOLUTION ON KOSOVO

C O N F I D E N T I A L JEDDAH 000157

INFO USOFFICE PRISTINA SR IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY TIRANA IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY
ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
NSC WASHDC
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SE, IO, INFO NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2014
TAGS: EAID KISL OFDP OVIP PREL SA KO XF
SUBJECT: ALBANIA SUBMITTING DRAFT RESOLUTION ON KOSOVO
RECOGNITION AT MAY 4-6 OIC JEDDAH MEETING PREPARATORY TO
MAY 23-25 DAMASCUS OIC MINISTERIAL

REF: A. 08 JEDDAH 0417

B. RIYADH 0588

C. RIYADH 0590

Classified By: Consul General Martin R. Quinn for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Albania is submitting a draft resolution on
Kosovo recognition at May 4-6 OIC Jeddah meeting preparatory
to May 23-25 Damascus OIC Ministerial. En route to Jeddah
OIC meeting today, the Albanian ambassador to Saudi Arabia,
Admirim Banaj, passed post a copy of Albania's draft
resolution urging OIC member states to recognize Kosovo. The
ambassador shared his assessments of OIC's opaque
decision-making process and the major OIC players as well as
the alternative phraseology Albania may propose for the
Damascus conference communique. See texts paragraphs 9 and
11 below. END SUMMARY.

2. (C) ALBANIAN AMBASSADOR TO SAUDI ARABIA TO SUBMIT DRAFT
RESOLUTION: On his initiative, the Albanian ambassador to
Saudi Arabia, Admirim Banaj, met May 4 with the Consul
General and PolOff to discuss the prospects for Kosovo
recognition prior to the start of the May 4-6 OIC preparatory
meeting. In September 2008 Ambassador Banaj sought consulate
support in arranging high level meetings for visiting Kosovo
Foreign Minister Skender Hyseni (ref A). Banaj shared his
views on the less than transparent process of adopting a
resolution at the OIC, the potential actions of OIC members
and observers on Kosovo, and the internal dynamics of the OIC
secretariat in Jeddah. Banaj promised to keep post informed
of developments.

3. (C) OIC SECRETARIAT "INSIDE BASEBALL": According to Banaj,
OIC Secretary General Ihsanoglu has played an active,
constructive role in helping to move member states towards
Kosovo recognition. Banaj mentioned that others at the OIC,
including SYG Advisor Ufuk Gokcen, have been helpful in the
process. In contrast, Banaj said the OIC Director of
Political Affairs, Ambassador Mahdy Fathalla, an Egyptian
with a long, pre-OIC diplomatic career, has regularly blocked
overtures on Kosovo. Banaj noted how easy -- in the OIC
context -- it is for one individual or country to derail a
process, but remarked that Ihsanoglu has made sure that
Fathalla "understands his place in the organization."

4. (C) OPERATIVE CLAUSE OF DRAFT RESOLUTION: Banaj passed to
post a complete draft resolution that will be discussed at
the preparatory meeting in Jeddah beginning May 4 (full text
para 9 below). The resolution notes the legal authority for
Kosovo recognition and independence, but stops short of
calling on all member states to recognize Kosovo, instead
leaning more toward economic cooperation and consideration of
diplomatic ties. The operative clause number 4 states "the
establishment of diplomatic relations with Kosovo is a matter
of decision by any OIC Member State in accordance with their
own national practice and international law."

5. (C) OIC OFFICIALS EXPRESS SUPPORT: Ufuk Gokcen, a Turkish
adviser to SYG Ihsanoglu, told post 10 days ago, that with
respect to Kosovo his boss would be happy to see recognition
and had personally lobbied for it. Gokcen cautioned,
however, that there are "limits" to what the secretariat can
do: "As the secretariat, we will not propose a draft
resolution." Last week Gokcen phoned the Albanian ambassador
to remind him of tight deadlines for submitting a resolution.

6. (C) OIC OPAQUE VOTING/DECISION PROCESS: The annual OIC
Foreign Ministers conference May 23-25 in Damascus will
address all proposed draft resolutions that clear the May 4-6
Jeddah preparatory meeting. Banaj said he expects to attend
the Damascus meeting, commenting that the OIC's procedure for
approving a resolution remains opaque even to him after three
years representing Albania at OIC. Banaj said he has never
seen a formal vote at the OIC and that decisions typically
emerge from consensus. While technically OIC decisions
should be unanimous, strong chairmen often push resolutions
through. Banaj said the veto power has never been exercised
at the OIC; both he and Gokcen maintain that OIC member
states generally abstain when they are opposed to specific
motions.

7. (C) SAUDI RECOGNITION FACTOR: Saudi Arabia's April 20
recognition of Kosovo (ref B) was hailed by the Albanian
ambassador as a major event which, along with recognition by


the UAE in October, may provide momentum to move reluctant
Arab and Islamic countries toward Kosovo recognition. Banaj
said that Adel Mordad would likely be the Kingdom's
representative at the OIC preparatory meeting and Saudi
support for any pro-Kosovo initiative was expected.

8. (C) ASSESSMENT OF MAJOR PLAYERS: Banaj named Algeria as
the country most staunchly opposed to Kosovo recognition
owing to its own situation in the Western Sahara. Gokcen
said that Indonesia, Morocco and Egypt could also hold up the
process. Iran has generally been opposed to recognition as
well. Banaj opined that Iran's stance may be in reaction to
US support for Kosovo and thus a kind of "adolescent
revenge." As for Russia's exercising its influence as an
observer at the OIC, Banaj said he had no insight about
Russia's possible action around the fringes in Jeddah or in
Damascus, but noted that observers are sometimes asked to
leave during sensitive OIC meetings. He also believed "Moscow
had lost clout with Muslims as a result of its Abkhazia
problem" and that it might now be "a little late for Russia
to prevent OIC members from coming on board." Both Banaj and
Gokcen cited Egypt's unhelpfulness in "suppressing" the
language used on Kosovo. Banaj said he can count on strong
support from Turkey and the Turks at OIC.

9. (SBU) DRAFT RESOLUTION TO BE SUBMITTED BY ALBANIA:
BEGIN TEXT
Draft resolution no(.on the situation in Kosovo
The 36th session of the Islamic Council of Foreign Ministers
(Session of Prosperity and Development),held in Damascus,
Syrian Arab Republic, from 23-25 May 2009( A.H. ((.20009);
Guided by the principles and purposes of the Charter of
United Nations, the Charter of OIC, the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights,
the Geneva Conventions of August 1949, 1951, Geneva
Convention on Refugees and the Additional Protocols of 1977,
as well as other instruments of international humanitarian
law; (adopted by OIC previously)
Upholding the role of UN in the peaceful settlement of
disputes and (the) maintenance of international peace and
security; (adopted by OIC previously)
Referring the UN Security Council,s Resolutions, No. 1160
(of 31st of March 1998,) No. 1999 (of 23rd September 1998)
No. 1203 (of 24th of October 1998) No. 1239 (of 14 May 1999)
and 1244 of 10th of June 1999 and the relevant Statements of
its President and Secretary General; (adopted by OIC
previously)
Referring to the Resolution No. 16/13 adopted at the
Thirty-first Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign
Ministers held in Istanbul on 14-16 June 2004; the Resolution
No. 36/34 of the 34th Session of the Islamic Conference of
Foreign Ministers, Islamabad, 15-17 May 2007, the Final
Communiqu of the 11th OIC (shtuar) Summit, Dakar, 13-14
March 2008, the Declaration of the OIC Ministerial Meeting in
Kampala in June and in New York in September 2008, where is
noted the Declaration of Independence by the Parliament of
Kosovo of 17 February 2008; (adopted by OIC previously)
Reaffirming the strong interest of OIC regarding the Muslims
in the Balkans, and the importance of the stability in the
whole Balkan region, (adopted by OIC previously)

1. Takes note of the progress made towards strengthening
the democratic institutions of Kosovo, serving peace and
stability in the country and the whole region;

2. Takes further note of the accelerated UN Mission,s
reconfiguration, deployment of EULEX throughout Kosovo, in
compliance with UN Secretary General,s guidelines and the
current Kosovo institutional and legal framework;

3. Welcomes the continuing efforts of the European Union
to advance the European perspective of Kosovo and the whole
of the Western Balkans, thereby making a decisive
contribution to regional stability and prosperity; (language
adopted by the Security Council Presidential Statement on
November 26, 2008)

4. Affirms that the establishment of the diplomatic
relations with Kosovo is a matter of decision by any OIC
Member State in accordance with their own national practice
and international law. (EU language) OR 4/1 Notes that OIC
member states will decide in accordance with their own
national practice and international law on their relations on
Kosovo; (EU language)

5. Welcomes the cooperation of Kosovo with the OIC


Economic and Financial institutions and its Member States,
and calls on the international community, including the OIC
Member States, to continue contributing to the fostering of
the Kosovo,s economy (partly adopted by OIC previously)

6. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the
implementation of the present Resolution, and to submit a
report there on to the 37 Session of the OIC Council of
Foreign Ministers.
END TEXT

10. (C) Albanian ambassador also shared with post the
following alternative phraseology on Kosovo that Albania may
propose for the Damascus conference communique:

11. (SBU)
BEGIN TEXT.
DRAFT PARAGRAPH ON KOSOVO
TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE 36 OIC MFA CONFERENCE

1. The Conference noted the declaration of Independence
by the Assembly of Kosovo, on February 17, 2008. Recalling
the continued interest of the OIC regarding the Muslims in
Balkans, the Conference expressed its solidarity with the
Kosovar people. (adopted by Dakar Summit) The Conference
decided to remain seized on the developments related to
Kosovo, including to explore as appropriate and in due time,
possibilities of recognition,/establishment of diplomatic
relations/ support and cooperation.
OR

2. The Conference noted that Member States will decide in
accordance with their own national practice and international
law, on their relations with Kosovo. (EU language)
OR

3. The Conference noted that Member States will recognize
the independence of Kosovo, in accordance with their own
national practice and international law.
OR

4. The Conference noted that Member States will establish
diplomatic relations with Kosovo, in accordance with ther
own national practice and international law.END TEXT.

12. (C) COMMENT: Albanian ambassador Admirim Banaj xpressed
hope that Saudi Arabia's Apil 20 recognition of Kosovo would
provide an opeing for broader recognition from Arab and
Islami countries. He thought the timing of the Saudi
decision along with Albanian action to raise the issue at OIC
could generate some forward momentum -- if not quite a surge
in individual country recognition. (Volunteering
autobiography when asked about his previous postings, Banaj
said that he is by profession an architect, university
teacher and cartoonist and was surprised when suddenly named
three years ago as Albania's ambassador to Riyadh.) Post
will continue to report on OIC developments with regard to
Kosovo. END COMMENT.
QUINN