KUWAIT WILL SUPPORT IMF/WB MEMBERSHIP FOR KOSOVO

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000414 SIPDIS NEA/ARP, EUR/SCE, EEB/IFD/OMA, EEB/IFD/ODF E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2019 TAGS: PREL ECON EFIN KV KU SUBJECT: KUWAIT WILL SUPPORT IMF/WB MEMBERSHIP FOR KOSOVO REF: A. SECSTATE 41665 ¶B. KUWAIT 376 (NOTAL) Classified By: Economic Counselor Oliver B. John for reasons 1.4 (b & d ). ¶1. (SBU) On April 26, Ambassador followed-up on her April 15 conversation with GoK Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al Sabah to encourage Kosovo recognition. Dr. Mohammed stated definitively that Kuwait would support IMF/WB membership for Kosovo. He noted, however, that Kuwait was not yet ready to recognize Kosovo, notwithstanding Saudi Arabia's April 20 recognition. According to the Foreign Minister, Kuwait still had "other concerns," including "unintended consequences for Bosnia." ¶2. (C) Comment: Recognition clearly presents a quandary of some sort for the GoK, which has presented at least four different arguments for not recognizing Kosovo over the past year: lack of GCC consensus; aversion to Muslim enclave states in Europe (vice integration); the international legality of Kosovo's declaration of independence, and now consequences for Bosnia. They may all be part of the same larger concern, which remains unclear, although the Kuwaitis have told us informally that they do not want to ruffle Russian or Serbian feathers. End Comment. ********************************************* ********* For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: visit Kuwait's Classified Website at: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it ********************************************* ********* JONES