Cablegate: Kosovo Final Status: No Policy Guidance for New

VZCZCXRO4856
PP RUEHBZ
DE RUEHSA #4213 3521336
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181336Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2984
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 0023
RUEHTN/AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN PRIORITY 5152
RUEHDU/AMCONSUL DURBAN PRIORITY 9436
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0012
RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA PRIORITY 0020
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0076
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0477
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS PRETORIA 004213

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SCE, IO/UNP, AF/S

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS AORC UNSC SF YI EU
SUBJECT: KOSOVO FINAL STATUS: NO POLICY GUIDANCE FOR NEW
YORK, YET

REF: A. SECSTATE 167211

B. SECSTATE 166909

1. (SBU) A/PolCouns presented reftel non-paper to DFA Deputy
Director: UN Security Council (Thematic Issues) Ilia du
Buisson on 18 December. Joining the meeting was UK Second
Secretary David McNaught, who presented nearly identical

SIPDIS
points from London and, in the absence of a British
non-paper, associated himself with the U.S one.

2. (SBU) An embarassed du Buisson admitted that she had
"absolutely no instructions" on this issue, since all
decision-makers (including PermRep Khumalo) were in
Polokwane, Limpopo for ANC leadership elections. She was
grateful for the non-paper and said she would forward it
immediately in the hopes that news of a clear U.S. and
European position would provoke a discussion on the margins
in Polokwane. She said that SAG players were well informed
on the issues, having met directly and repeatedly with
representatives from both sides, and listed the factors that
she expected would be considered in the decision-making
process: South Africa's successful experience with
negotiations in ending apartheid; ideological questions
regarding the role of the UN and especially the UN Security
Council; absence of international consensus; and, to a lesser
degree, others' attempts to claim this would set a precedent.
Du Buisson said she honestly had no idea what the leadership
would decide, but agreed to inform the U.S. and UK once she
had instructions from Polokwane.

3. (SBU) COMMENT: What the SAG really wants is for the two
sides to follow the South African example and sit around a
table talking things through until they come to a mutually
acceptable solution. This experience is central to the South
African approach to conflict resolution, and it is difficult
for the SAG to believe that it is unachievable in the current
context. That said, the SAG's worst fears are a unilateral
declaration of independence by the Kosovars and/or renewed
violence in the region -- they would certainly prefer
Ahtisaari over either of those alternatives. The UK High
Commissioner and several other European Chiefs of Mission are
currently on the ground in Polokwane. McNaught will
recommend they approach senior SAG officials there to further
press the issue. END COMMENT.

BOST

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