SLOVENIA: FM ZBOGAR SAYS NO ORAL ARGUMENT FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000272 SIPDIS EUR/SCE, L/EUR, L/UNA E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2019 TAGS: PREL ICJ AORC KV SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA: FM ZBOGAR SAYS NO ORAL ARGUMENT FOR KOSOVO ICJ CASE REF: STATE 90199 Classified By: CDA Brad Freden, reasons 1.4(b,d) ¶1. (C) Slovenian Foreign Minister Samuel Zbogar told EUR/SCE PDAS Stu Jones on August 30 that Slovenia would not provide oral arguments at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding Kosovo's independence (reftel). Jones urged Zbogar to reconsider Slovenia's position. ¶2. (C) Comment: The Slovenians are trying to balance their good relations with Belgrade and Pristina. They have already filed two written briefs in the case, supporting Kosovo's legal right to declare independence. We will continue to push this question, arguing that it is in everyone's best interest, including (perhaps especially) Serbia's, for the ICJ to close the book on the question of Kosovo's independence. There is a reasonable chance that Zbogar and the Slovenes could reconsider. End comment. FREDEN