Cablegate: Demarche to Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs

VZCZCXRO6227
PP RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW
DE RUEHKA #1302 3501045
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151045Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7952
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 8756
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 2496
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0976
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 1602
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0147
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY

UNCLAS DHAKA 001302

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SCE, SCA/PB, SCA/FO, US/UN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BG PGOV PHUM PREL KV
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO BANGLADESH MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
ON KOSOVO RECOGNITION

REF: STATE 127443

1. (U) On December 15, PolOff met with the Senior Assistant
Secretary from the Americas, Pacific and Counterterrorism
wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to encourage the
Government of Bangladesh's (GOB) recognition of Kosovo.
PolOff urged the GOB to recognize Kosovo as soon as possible,
noting that now is the right time to support its development
as a peaceful and economically successful new member of the
community of nations.

2. (U) The Senior Assistant Secretary responded that it will
be difficult for Bangladesh's current Caretaker Government to
recognize Kosovo. With only two weeks left in power, the
Caretaker Government is essentially a lame duck
administration. Bangladesh is scheduled to hold
Parliamentary elections on December 29. The Senior Assistant
Secretary believes that a new government will consider
recognizing Kosovo, but she demurred that at this stage,
Bangladesh it not prepared to recognize Kosovo.

Comment
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4. (U) The Ambassador is scheduled to meet with Bangladesh's
Foreign Affairs Adviser, Ifetkhar Ahmed Chowdhury, on
December 17 and will raise the issue. Post will also be sure
to raise Kosovo recognition with a new government at an
appropriate time. Nevertheless, Bangladesh does not yet
appear ready to recognize Kosovo. If an increasing number of
Muslim nations do recognize the fledgling nation, however,
Bangladesh may be persuaded to do the same.
MORIARTY

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