C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 039345

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2019
TAGS: PREL ECON UN KV
SUBJECT: SUPPORTING KOSOVO IN INTERNATIONAL BODIES

Classified By: IO A/S Esther Brimmer for reason 1.4(b).


1. (C) Summary. This is an action request, see paragraph 2.
The Department wishes to highlight our continuing interest in
supporting participation by the Republic of Kosovo in
international
institutions. Kosovo, which has just completed its first
year of
independence, has made integration in international
institutions a high
priority and we support this effort. At the same time,states
opposed
to Kosovo's statehood may seek opportunities to block or
delay its
participation in international bodies. Posts should counter
these
efforts and alert Department. End Summary.

OBJECTIVES
--------------


2. (C) Action request. Department requests that delegations
and
missions pursue the following objectives:

-- Discourage any efforts to change rules of procedure or
membership
requirements that could result in blocking or delaying
Kosovo,s
participation in international bodies based at your mission.

-- Alert the Department to such effects on a case-by-case
basis and
seek guidance to coordinate the USG response.


3. (C) Delegations from France, Germany, the UK, Italy,
Turkey,
Croatia and Albania can be counted on to support efforts to
advance
Kosovo,s integration into international bodies. Opposition
to Kosovo's
engagement in world bodies might emerge from Serbia,
Russia, Cuba,
Cyprus, Spain, and Venezuela.

BACKGROUND
--------------


4. (SBU) It is a USG policy priority to help Kosovo fully
establish
its status as a state, including joining multilateral
organizations,
to encourage more countries to recognize and establish
diplomatic
relations with Kosovo, and to promote Kosovo,s fullest
possible
engagement with international organizations. Kosovo has
embassies
in Ankara, Berlin, Bern, Brussels, London, Paris, Rome,
Tirana, Vienna,
and Washington and is working to establish more.


5. (SBU) Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on February
17, 2008.
The United States recognized Kosovo and established
diplomatic relations
the next day and was soon followed by several European
countries.
Currently, 57 countries see
www.state.sgov.gov/s/crs/index.cfm,
then click on Kosovo under GAZA Interagency Secretariat and
then click
on (SBU) Kosovo Recognitions as of April 7, 2009 you will
get a list, including all the G-7, and all of Kosovo,s
immediate neighbors
save Serbia have recognized Kosovo. However, because of
Russia's announced
intention to veto a Kosovo application so long as Serbia
opposes it,
UN membership is not likely in the near future. NATO and the
EU do not
have consensus positions regarding Kosovo recognition; 22 of

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27 EU member
states and 24 of 28 NATO members have recognized Kosovo. The
IMF is
currently voting to determine whether Kosovo will be
admitted. The World
Bank will likely begin a similar voting process later this
month.


6. (SBU) UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon noted in his last
three reports to
the UN Security Council(the most recent report was discussed
in the UNSC on
March 23)that he has ordered the UN Mission in
Kosovo(UNMIK)to downsize
following entry into force last June of Kosovo's constitution
and has
welcomed the EU's enhanced role in Kosovo,s rule of law
sector. With over
$1.9 billion of pledged donor assistance, Kosovo is
strengthening its
institutions, nurturing its economy, and conducting its own
foreign affairs.
It is imperative for Kosovo,s sustainability that it be
given every feasible
opportunity to integrate with and cooperate with multilateral
institutions.

POINT OF CONTACT
--------------


7. (U) Please contact Kosovo Desk Officer Seiji Shiratori at
202-647-7729
or Kosovo Status Coordinator Paul Pfeuffer at 202-647-2452
for additional
information. Please be sure to slug responses for IO/UNP
John Mariz and USUN.
CLINTON