CORRECTED COPY: SURINAME: FOREIGN MINISTER ASSURES

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000128

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FROM AMBASSADOR LISA BOBBIE SCHREIBER HUGHES
WHA FOR DAS DAVID ROBINSON
WHA/CAR FOR VELIA DE PIRRO AND JACKIE ROSHOLT
WHA/PDA FOR CHAD WEST
EUR/SCE FOR JENNIFER RAHIMI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EFIN PREL KV NS
SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY: SURINAME: FOREIGN MINISTER ASSURES
AMBASSADOR THAT SHE WILL ADDRESS KOSOVO ISSUE TODAY (4
MAY)

REF: A. (A) STATE 29385

B. (B) PARAMARIBO 117


1. (SBU) As noted reftel b, we have tried since early April
to engage the Surinamese MFA on matters concerning Kosovo,
largely without success.


2. (SBU) Finally, on 29 April and in response to my direct
entreaty, the MFA responded in writing with the following:
"...the Republic of Suriname has supported Resolution
A/RES/63/3 dated 8 October 2008 adopted by the United Nations
General Assembly, requesting the International Court of
Justice to provide an advisory opinion, on whether the
unilateral proclamation of independence of Kosovo in February
2008 was in line with international law. The Ministry
currently awaits the aforementioned opinion before making a
pronounciation (sic) on this subject."


3. (SBU) Considering the aforementioned, I inferred that
the GOS currently would abstain on any Kosovo vote. However,
we recognize that the time-sensitive issue remains to
establish a voting quorum for both the IMF and World Bank,
making it critical that Suriname cast its votes-whether
"yes", "no", or "abstain", in both of these forums. I
therefore immediately tried to communicate to the MFA the
criticality of timely member voting, irrespective of what
that vote might be. On the morning of April 4 I was able to
speak directly to Foreign Minister Lygia Kraag-Keteldijk. I
urged the Minister to ensure that the GOS casts its vote(s),
whether "yes", "no", or "abstain", in time to be counted for
the voting quorum. The Minister assured me that she would
address the Kosovo issue at once.


4. (SBU) Comment: Given the content of the 29 April
communication from the MFA, I am only cautiously optimistic
that the Minister will, in fact, ensure that Suriname casts
its votes. Certainly we have been emphatic in our
communications to the GOS that Kosovo is critically important
to the USG. End comment.
SCHREIBER HUGHES