KOSOVO RECOGNITION DEMARCHE DELIVERED

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000778 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/MAG, EUR/SCE PAUL PFEUFFER, BRAD EVANS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2019 TAGS: AORC MO PREL SR SERBIA KV SUBJECT: KOSOVO RECOGNITION DEMARCHE DELIVERED REF: STATE 94939 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Elisabeth Millard for reasons 1. 4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) D/PolCouns delivered on September 16 reftel points to Azzeddine Farhane, Moroccan MFA Director for United Nations and International Organizations. Farhane, who will accompany Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi Fihri to the UNGA, was not optimistic that the GOM would meet with the Kosovar delegation. Farhane reiterated Morocco's reluctance to recognize Kosovo, stating that recognition could not be accorded on the basis of Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence. He added that this applies to all "frozen conflicts." ¶2. (C) Comment. "Frozen conflict" is a euphemism for the Western Sahara. The GOM continues to believe that recognition of Kosovo would create pressure for Morocco to accept the POLISARIO's unilateral declaration of independence for the Western Sahara--a point that Serbian diplomacy in Morocco continues to exploit. The Moroccan news agency MAP reported September 14 on a meeting between Fassi Fihri and his Serbian counterpart, Vuk Jeremic, in which Fassi Fihri is cited as saying Morocco does not acknowledge the Republic of Kosovo based on the principle that it cannot acknowledge a "province's" unilaterally proclaimed independence. End comment. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco ***************************************** Millard