KOSOVO CHARGE IN LONDON REPORTS HIS ACCREDITATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 000778


E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2019
TAGS: ODIP PREL KVPR NZ KV UK
SUBJECT: KOSOVO CHARGE IN LONDON REPORTS HIS ACCREDITATION
TO NEW ZEALAND ON TRACK

REF: STATE 27328

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Greg Berry for reasons 1.4
(B) and (D).


1. (C) The New Zealand Foreign Ministry has communicated to
the Kosovo Foreign Ministry its acceptance "in principle" for
the Kosovo Charge in London, Muhamet Hamiti, to be jointly
accredited to New Zealand, Hamiti informed Political Minister
Counselor on March 26. Hamiti, who shared a copy of a March
24 letter sent from Wellington to the Kosovo Foreign Ministry
on the issue (text of letter at para. 5),said that what
remained to be worked out were "the practicalities" of his
dual accreditation, but he believed the process is on track.
He expects, assuming the remaining steps are completed on
schedule, to travel to New Zealand to formally present his
credentials sometime in April. Hamiti did note that the
Kosovo Foreign Minister is traveling over the next few weeks
to New York and Prague, which may slow down how fast the
Kosovo Ministry can resolve the final details. He did not
believe any U.S. facilitation with either the New Zealand or
Kosovo governments was needed at this time, but said he would
contact Embassy London if there were unforeseen roadblocks.


2. (C) Polcounselor spoke with his counterpart at the New
Zealand High Commission in London on March 27, Jake Collins.
Collins reported that Wellington had instructed the High
Commission to not engage directly on the issue or contact
Hamiti, as Wellington preferred to deal with the Kosovo
Foreign Ministry directly and through the Ministry with
Hamiti as necessary. Against that background, Collins said
he understood that Wellington was moving forward with the
proposal and had a good line of communication with the
Kosovars. He did not know about the March 24 letter sent to
the Kosovo Foreign Ministry agreeing in principle to the dual
accreditation. According to Collins, some of the initial
reluctance to the proposal from his government had been over
the accreditation of a Charge, rather than a sitting
Ambassador, to Wellington. Collins suggested that some of
the practicalities that needed to be worked out related to
this issue.

Hamiti Pressing Other Diplomats on Recognition
-------------- -


3. (C) Hamiti struck poloffs as an energetic diplomat, with
an excellent command of English, if a little verbose. During
his first four months in London, he said he had met with over
40 of his diplomatic counterparts from countries that have
not yet recognized Kosovo. In his own view, the key to
achieving recognition from other states would be for a few
key governments -- such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan -- to
announce their recognition of Kosovar independence. Hamiti
said many of Middle Eastern diplomats in London tell him that
their governments are looking for movement on recognition
from Riyadh or Islamabad to pave the way for their own
government's action. Hamiti said Spain's recent decision to
pull its troops out of KFOR was "disappointing" and suggested
it was a step backward in terms of moving Madrid forward in
relations with Kosovo. In contrast, he said the recently
announced drawdown of UK forces from KFOR was handled
satisfactorily, after full consultation with NATO
headquarters.


4. (C) Hamiti's immediate focus is moving the last five EU
holdouts on recognition forward as he believes having all the
European nations in the recognition column would send a
strong signal to the International Court of Justice -- "its a
European question and we could point out that all of Europe
is united in recognizing our independence." He thought
obtaining Greece's recognition was the most possible, as well
as that of Cyprus, among the holdouts.

Text of March 24 Letter from New Zealand Foreign Ministry
-------------- --------------


5. (SBU) Begin text:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade
195 Lambton Quay
Wellington 5045, New Zealand

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade presents its
compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kosovo, and
has the honour to refer to the letter from the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Kosovo, dated 23 January 2009 to the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, New Zealand, proposing the
establishment of diplomatic and consular relations between
New Zealand and the Republic of Kosovo on the basis of terms
set out in the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular
Relations.

The Ministry has been instructed by the Minister of Foreign
Affairs to respond through standard diplomatic channels by
means of this note.

New Zealand is receptive in principle to the accreditation by
the Kosovo of a suitable person in accordance with diplomatic
protocol. The Ministry notes that some aspects of the
specific proposal to accredit the Charg d, Affairs a.e. of
the Republic of Kosovo in the UK to New Zealand require
further clarification.

The Ministry, consistent with earlier advice, notes that
arrangements for such accreditation should be handled in
correspondence with Mr George Troup, Director, Europe
Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand.

The email address for Mr. Troup is George.troup@mfat.govt.nz.
Mr. Troup will be making direct contact with the designated
officials of Kosovo in order to discuss the matters referred
to in the previous paragraph. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Trade takes this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Kosovo the assurances of its highest
consideration.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Wellington

24 March 2009

End text.

Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom

LEBARON