KOSOVO: HUNGARY IN TALKS TO REPRESENT SPANISH EU

UNCLAS PRISTINA 000457 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/PGI, INL, DRL, PRM, USAID E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KV HU SP SUBJECT: KOSOVO: HUNGARY IN TALKS TO REPRESENT SPANISH EU PRESIDENCY SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. ¶1. (SBU) Atilla Fodor, First Secretary of the Hungarian Embassy in Pristina, briefed us Friday, October 16, on Hungary's hopes to represent Spain in Kosovo, during Spain's January-June 2010 EU presidency. According to Fodor, intensive bilateral talks are underway, and a decision is expected no later than mid-November. Fodor expressed his ministry's desire to work closely with the United States on Kosovo issues both during the local presidency, should Spain select Hungary to represent it, as well as in its scheduled presidency in the first six months of 2011. He noted that the Western Balkans would be Hungary's top priority in its 2011 presidency. In response, we told Fodor that the USG desires close coordination and cooperation with the EU, and that the Embassy looks forward to working closely with his mission, both in its capacity as local EU presidency, if selected, and in 2011. COMMENT -------------- ¶2. (SBU) While it is an internal matter to be decided by Spain and Hungary, the prospect of a state that recognizes Kosovo (Hungary) replacing a strident non-recognizer (Spain) as the local face of the EU presidency is nothing but positive. We will work closely with the Hungarian Embassy in Pristina when it joins the European Troika. DELL