Cablegate: Finland Comments: Kosovo Icj Resolution at Unga

VZCZCXRO1902
RR RUEHAG RUEHROV
DE RUEHHE #0457 2830741
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 090741Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4587
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000457

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2018
TAGS: PREL UN UNGA ICJ KV FI
SUBJECT: FINLAND COMMENTS: KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT UNGA

REF: A. STATE 105796
B. STATE 91908

Classified By: PolChief Scott Brandon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

1. (C) PolOff and Finland Desk Officer met with Finnish MFA
Counselor Tony Paso, Unit for EU Enlargement and West Balkans
on October 7. Regarding the Serbian resolution, Paso said
that the Government of Finland (GoF) will abstain regardless
of the EU position, coinciding with the public position taken
by President Halonen and Foreign Minister Stubb in late
September. He said the GoF hoped to see the rest of the EU
abstain. Paso also said that the GoF would join in a
declaration by the EU countries recognizing Kosovo if any is
made to provide a voting explanation. Paso also noted that
Cyprus will vote for the resolution since their President has
publicly declared in favor and won't move to abstain. He
indicated that Romania and Spain may also vote for the
resolution and that surprisingly, Sweden may vote for the
resolution or possibly abstain. The UK was the only EU
member who wanted to vote against the resolution. GoF
expects the resolution to pass in the General Assembly.

2. (C) Comment: GoF is abstaining in line with their
longstanding support for international fora for conflict
resolution. Their initial inclination was to vote against.
Serbia approached them in July, and after further internal
GoF discussion they decided to abstain regardless of the EU
position. End Comment.
BARRETT

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