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FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1304
INFO RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA IMMEDIATE
RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA IMMEDIATE 0074
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RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0175
RUCNDTA/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0071

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 JEDDAH 000163 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/SE, IO, INFO NEA/ARP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2014 
TAGS: EAID KISL OFDP OVIP PREL SA KO XF
SUBJECT: ALBANIA SUBMITTING DRAFT RESOLUTION ON KOSOVO 
RECOGNITION AT MAY 4-6 OIC JEDDAH MEETING PREPARATORY TO 
MAY 23-25 DAMASCUS OIC MINISTERIAL 
 
REF: A. 08 JEDDAH 0417 
     ¶B. RIYADH 0588 
     ¶C. RIYADH 0590 
 
JEDDAH 00000163  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
Classified By: Consul General Martin R. Quinn for reasons 1.4(b) and (d 
) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Albania is submitting a draft resolution on 
Kosovo recognition at May 4-6 OIC Jeddah meeting preparatory 
to May 23-25 Damascus OIC Ministerial.  En route to Jeddah 
OIC meeting today, the Albanian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, 
Admirim Banaj, passed post a copy of Albania's draft 
resolution urging OIC member states to recognize Kosovo.  The 
ambassador shared his assessments of OIC's opaque 
decision-making process and the major OIC players as well as 
the alternative phraseology Albania may propose for the 
Damascus conference communique.  See texts paragraphs 9 and 
11 below.  END SUMMARY. 
¶2. (C) ALBANIAN AMBASSADOR TO SAUDI ARABIA TO SUBMIT DRAFT 
RESOLUTION: On his initiative, the Albanian ambassador to 
Saudi Arabia, Admirim Banaj, met May 4 with the Consul 
General and PolOff to discuss the prospects for Kosovo 
recognition prior to the start of the May 4-6 OIC preparatory 
meeting.  In September 2008 Ambassador Banaj sought consulate 
support in arranging high level meetings for visiting Kosovo 
Foreign Minister Skender Hyseni (ref A).  Banaj shared his 
views on the less than transparent process of adopting a 
resolution at the OIC, the potential actions of OIC members 
and observers on Kosovo, and the internal dynamics of the OIC 
secretariat in Jeddah.  Banaj promised to keep post informed 
of developments. 
¶3. (C) OIC SECRETARIAT "INSIDE BASEBALL": According to Banaj, 
OIC Secretary General Ihsanoglu has played an active, 
constructive role in helping to move member states towards 
Kosovo recognition. Banaj mentioned that others at the OIC, 
including SYG Advisor Ufuk Gokcen, have been helpful in the 
process.  In contrast, Banaj said the OIC Director of 
Political Affairs, Ambassador Mahdy Fathalla, an Egyptian 
with a long, pre-OIC diplomatic career, has regularly blocked 
overtures on Kosovo.  Banaj noted how easy -- in the OIC 
context -- it is for one individual or country to derail a 
process, but remarked that Ihsanoglu has made sure that 
Fathalla "understands his place in the organization." 
¶4. (C) OPERATIVE CLAUSE OF DRAFT RESOLUTION:  Banaj passed to 
post a complete draft resolution that will be discussed at 
the preparatory meeting in Jeddah beginning May 4 (full text 
para 9 below).  The resolution notes the legal authority for 
Kosovo recognition and independence, but stops short of 
calling on all member states to recognize Kosovo, instead 
leaning more toward economic cooperation and consideration of 
diplomatic ties. The operative clause number 4 states "the 
establishment of diplomatic relations with Kosovo is a matter 
of decision by any OIC Member State in accordance with their 
own national practice and international law." 
¶5. (C) OIC OFFICIALS EXPRESS SUPPORT: Ufuk Gokcen, a Turkish 
adviser to SYG Ihsanoglu, told post 10 days ago, that with 
respect to Kosovo his boss would be happy to see recognition 
and had personally lobbied for it.  Gokcen cautioned, 
however, that there are "limits" to what the secretariat can 
do:  "As the secretariat, we will not propose a draft 
resolution."  Last week Gokcen phoned the Albanian ambassador 
to remind him of tight deadlines for submitting a resolution. 
¶6. (C) OIC OPAQUE VOTING/DECISION PROCESS: The annual OIC 
Foreign Ministers conference May 23-25 in Damascus will 
address all proposed draft resolutions that clear the May 4-6 
Jeddah preparatory meeting.  Banaj said he expects to attend 
the Damascus meeting, commenting that the OIC's procedure for 
approving a resolution remains opaque even to him after three 
years representing Albania at OIC.  Banaj said he has never 
seen a formal vote at the OIC and that decisions typically 
emerge from consensus.  While technically OIC decisions 
should be unanimous, strong chairmen often push resolutions 
through. Banaj said the veto power has never been exercised 
at the OIC; both he and Gokcen maintain that OIC member 
states generally abstain when they are opposed to specific 
 
JEDDAH 00000163  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
motions. 
¶7. (C) SAUDI RECOGNITION FACTOR: Saudi Arabia's April 20 
recognition of Kosovo (ref B) was hailed by the Albanian 
ambassador as a major event which, along with recognition by 
the UAE in October, may provide momentum to move reluctant 
Arab and Islamic countries toward Kosovo recognition.  Banaj 
said that Adel Mordad would likely be the Kingdom's 
representative at the OIC preparatory meeting and Saudi 
support for any pro-Kosovo initiative was expected. 
¶8. (C) ASSESSMENT OF MAJOR PLAYERS: Banaj named Algeria as 
the country most staunchly opposed to Kosovo recognition 
owing to its own situation in the Western Sahara.  Gokcen 
said that Indonesia, Morocco and Egypt could also hold up the 
process.  Iran has generally been opposed to recognition as 
well.  Banaj opined that Iran's stance may be in reaction to 
US support for Kosovo and thus a kind of "adolescent 
revenge."  As for Russia's exercising its influence as an 
observer at the OIC, Banaj said he had no insight about 
Russia's possible action around the fringes in Jeddah or in 
Damascus, but noted that observers are sometimes asked to 
leave during sensitive OIC meetings. He also believed "Moscow 
had lost clout with Muslims as a result of its Abkhazia 
problem" and that it might now be "a little late for Russia 
to prevent OIC members from coming on board."  Both Banaj and 
Gokcen cited Egypt's unhelpfulness in "suppressing" the 
language used on Kosovo.  Banaj said he can count on strong 
support from Turkey and the Turks at OIC. 
¶9. (SBU) DRAFT RESOLUTION TO BE SUBMITTED BY ALBANIA: 
BEGIN TEXT 
Draft resolution no(.on the situation in Kosovo 
The 36th session of the Islamic Council of Foreign Ministers 
(Session of Prosperity and Development), held in Damascus, 
Syrian Arab Republic, from 23-25 May 2009( A.H. ((.20009); 
Guided by the principles and purposes of the Charter of 
United Nations, the Charter of OIC, the Universal Declaration 
of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights, 
the Geneva Conventions of August 1949, 1951, Geneva 
Convention on Refugees and the Additional Protocols of 1977, 
as well as other instruments of international humanitarian 
law; (adopted by OIC previously) 
Upholding the role of UN in the peaceful settlement of 
disputes and (the) maintenance of international peace and 
security; (adopted by OIC previously) 
Referring the UN Security Council,s Resolutions, No. 1160 
(of 31st of March 1998,) No. 1999 (of 23rd September 1998) 
No. 1203 (of 24th of October 1998) No. 1239 (of 14 May 1999) 
and 1244 of 10th of June 1999 and the relevant Statements of 
its President and Secretary General; (adopted by OIC 
previously) 
Referring to the Resolution No. 16/13 adopted at the 
Thirty-first Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign 
Ministers held in Istanbul on 14-16 June 2004; the Resolution 
No. 36/34 of the 34th Session of the Islamic Conference of 
Foreign Ministers, Islamabad, 15-17 May 2007, the Final 
Communiqu of the 11th OIC (shtuar) Summit, Dakar, 13-14 
March 2008, the Declaration of the OIC Ministerial Meeting in 
Kampala in June and in New York in September 2008, where is 
noted the Declaration of Independence by the Parliament of 
Kosovo of 17 February 2008; (adopted by OIC previously) 
Reaffirming the strong interest of OIC regarding the Muslims 
in the Balkans, and the importance of the stability in the 
whole Balkan region, (adopted by OIC previously) 
¶1.     Takes note of the progress made towards strengthening 
the democratic institutions of Kosovo, serving peace and 
stability in the country and the whole region; 
¶2.     Takes further note of the accelerated UN Mission,s 
reconfiguration, deployment of EULEX throughout Kosovo, in 
compliance with UN Secretary General,s guidelines and the 
current Kosovo institutional and legal framework; 
¶3.    Welcomes the continuing efforts of the European Union 
to advance the European perspective of Kosovo and the whole 
of the Western Balkans, thereby making a decisive 
contribution to regional stability and prosperity; (language 
adopted by the Security Council Presidential Statement on 
November 26, 2008) 
 
JEDDAH 00000163  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶4.    Affirms that the establishment of the diplomatic 
relations with Kosovo is a matter of decision by any OIC 
Member State in accordance with their own national practice 
and international law. (EU language) OR 4/1 Notes that OIC 
member states will decide in accordance with their own 
national practice and international law on their relations on 
Kosovo; (EU language) 
¶5.    Welcomes the cooperation of Kosovo with the OIC 
Economic and Financial institutions and its Member States, 
and calls on the international community, including the OIC 
Member States, to continue contributing to the fostering of 
the Kosovo,s economy (partly adopted by OIC previously) 
¶6.    Requests the Secretary General to follow up the 
implementation of the present Resolution, and to submit a 
report there on to the 37 Session of the OIC Council of 
Foreign Ministers. 
END TEXT 
¶10. (C) Albanian ambassador also shared with post the 
following alternative phraseology on Kosovo that Albania may 
propose for the Damascus conference communique: 
¶11. (SBU) 
BEGIN TEXT. 
DRAFT PARAGRAPH ON KOSOVO 
TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE 36 OIC MFA CONFERENCE 
¶1.     The Conference noted the declaration of Independence 
by the Assembly of Kosovo, on February 17, 2008.  Recalling 
the continued interest of the OIC regarding the Muslims in 
Balkans, the Conference expressed its solidarity with the 
Kosovar people. (adopted by Dakar Summit)  The Conference 
decided to remain seized on the developments related to 
Kosovo, including to explore as appropriate and in due time, 
possibilities of recognition,/establishment of diplomatic 
relations/ support and cooperation. 
OR 
¶2.     The Conference noted that Member States will decide in 
accordance with their own national practice and international 
law, on their relations with Kosovo.  (EU language) 
OR 
¶3.     The Conference noted that Member States will recognize 
the independence of Kosovo, in accordance with their own 
national practice and international law. 
OR 
¶4.     The Conference noted that Member States will establish 
diplomatic relations with Kosovo, in accordance with their 
own national practice and international law. 
END TEXT. 
¶12. (C) COMMENT: Albanian ambassador Admirim Banaj expressed 
hope that Saudi Arabia's April 20 recognition of Kosovo would 
provide an opening for broader recognition from Arab and 
Islamic countries.  He thought the timing of the Saudi 
decision along with Albanian action to raise the issue at OIC 
could generate some forward momentum -- if not quite a surge 
in individual country recognition. (Volunteering 
autobiography when asked about his previous postings, Banaj 
said that he is by profession an architect, university 
teacher and cartoonist and was surprised when suddenly named 
three years ago as Albania's ambassador to Riyadh.)  Post 
will continue to report on OIC developments with regard to 
Kosovo. END COMMENT. 
QUINN