ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE ON KOSOVO RECOGNITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000208 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: TWENTY YEARS TAGS: PREL AORC ICJ UN KV EC SUBJECT: ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE ON KOSOVO RECOGNITION REF: A. STATE 11928 ¶B. QUITO 126 ¶C. 08 QUITO 879 ¶D. 08 QUITO 775 ¶E. 08 QUITO 395 Classified By: DCM Andrew Chritton for Reasons 1.4 (b&d) ¶1. (C) In light of recent bilateral tensions over the expulsion of two U.S. diplomats (Ref B),Post did not deliver the demarche on Kosovo until March 23, when PolOff conveyed Ref A points to MFA Bilateral Affairs Director General for Europe Pablo Villagomez. Villagomez reiterated the GOE's position (Refs C, D, E) that it supported review of the case by the International Court of Justice (ICJ),and would wait for a decision by the Court before announcing a change on its position regarding recognition of Kosovo's independence. ¶2. (C) PolOff questioned whether Kosovo's independence should be a legal or political issue; Villagomez responded that the case included both elements and that the ICJ was an institution that deserved international respect. PolOff countered that after an extended period of international administration aimed at building Kosovo's capacity for self-government and a UN-led process of negotiation, sending the Kosovo independence issue to the ICJ would risk creating additional uncertainty and instability in the Balkans and would question the credibility of UN-led processes. ¶3. (C) When questioned whether the GOE would recognize Kosovo's independence if the ICJ rules in favor or against the legality of Kosovo's claim of independence, Villagomez said he could not confirm. Villagomez did agree, however, that it was highly unlikely that Kosovo could ever reintegrate itself with Serbia under Serbian rule. HODGES