MAURITIUS TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO, PRIME MINISTER SAYS

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT LOUIS 000168 AF FOR MARIA BEYZEROV E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2019 TAGS: ECON EFIN PREL KV MP SUBJECT: MAURITIUS TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO, PRIME MINISTER SAYS REF: A. PORT LOUIS 166 ¶B. PORT LOUIS 55 ¶C. 2008 PORT LOUIS 304 (SEP 08) Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Virginia Blaser for reasons 1.4 (b and d). ¶1. (C) On 4 June, Prime Minister Ramgoolam called CDA to report that he had decided Mauritius would recognize Kosovo on or soon after 17 July. When asked the reason for the complete shift of GOM position (see refs),the PM said that he had been swayed by the series of talking points delivered over the past year. He was taking the decision, he said, over the recommendations of his senior Foreign Ministry officials who strongly advised he not recognize Kosovo. According to the PM, the MFA continues to see recognition of Kosovo as undermining the GOM position on Diego Garcia. The PM noted that he reviewed all the points and determined that the two situations were "quite different," and thus recognition would take place. With regard to the timing, the PM said he was going to wait until 17 July, a date he fixed to timing of a Serbian Advisory Opinion in the International Court of Justice. ¶2. (C) COMMENT: This proposed turnaround by the GOM comes as a surprise. As much as Post would like to attribute the turnaround solely to our diplomatic efforts, the timing coincides with the PM's need for a boost in support from Muslim voters, as rumors of early elections are in the air and the Muslim vote is critical to his coalition. Additionally, foreign internet press reports (balkaninsight.com) from several weeks ago noted that Kosovar businessman and politician Behgjet Pacolli had plans to visit African countries, including Mauritius, to lobby for recognition. While no local press reported that Pacolli had yet made an appearance on the island, a late May telephone call from the leader of the opposition, Paul Berenger, to CDA indicated he believed Pacolli would indeed be coming to the island. Berenger, however, had no idea of exact dates of the rumored visit. Post finds it possible that Pacolli could have come and gone from the country without the press being made aware of the visit. Contact with the Foreign Ministry to confirm the GOM's recognition date (and to obtain a better explanation for the timing) revealed that the MFA was unaware of the PM's decision, which has not yet been made public. Post will seek opportunities to encourage the PM to announce his decision prior to his stated 17 July date. END COMMENT. BLASER