VZCZCXYZ0007
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLE #0325 3101427
ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY ADX0D3BB1D MSI8818 611)
R 061427Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY LUXEMBOURG
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6802
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA 0042
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0645

UNCLAS LUXEMBOURG 000325 
 
C O R R E C T E D  C O P Y //ADDED SENSITIVE STATEMENT// 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/WE VALERIE BELON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR PINR KV LU
SUBJECT: LUXEMBOURG SOLDIER DIES IN KOSOVO 
 
REF: CENTER-FREIRE NOTIFICATION 11/04/09 
 
¶1. (U) A Luxembourg soldier died in Kosovo on 4 November near 
Mitrovica.  Defense Minister Jean-Marie Halsdorf held a 
hastily-called, extremely terse press conference that lasted 
three minutes, during which he only announced the death, the 
age of the soldier (28), and the fact that the death was not 
combat-related.  Halsdorf also signaled that the incident 
would not affect Luxembourg's current presence in Kosovo. 
Luxembourg's 23-troop contingent in Kosovo represents the 
Grand Duchy's largest overseas deployment.  The troops are 
part of NATO's KFOR operation and operate under French 
command in Novo Selo. 
 
¶2.  (U) With the government providing no further information, 
speculation is that the death was a suicide.  The soldier was 
reportedly a First Lieutenant and was the commander of the 
Luxembourg contingent.  Government reports indicate the 
family has been informed and that an Army unit has been 
dispatched to Kosovo to investigate the death and repatriate 
the soldier's remains. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Until the speculative becomes confirmed, the 
suicide angle is likely to spiral.  We suspect Luxembourg 
authorities will announce the confirmed cause of death as 
expeditiously as possible to avoid any unnecessary tarnishing 
of the highly-respected Luxembourg Army, which could be 
sullied by unsubstantiated rumors.  Major daily d'Wort's 
deputy editor-in-chief argued that the tragic incident, if 
properly presented to the public and in a timely fashion, 
could lead to an increase in the already strong support 
Luxembourg's overseas missions receive in the public sector. 
Luxembourg's military missions generally are the subject of 
very little controversy among the public, but in some 
sectors, Luxembourgers lament the little international 
attention given to Luxembourg's military contributions.  A 
spotlight, albeit a tragic one, may increase that attention. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Until now, Luxembourg's Kosovo contingent was 
primarily known for sparking true love and a royal 
controversy in 2004.  While on a goodwill tour with his 
father to Kosovo, the Grand Duke's third son, Prince Louis, 
met a Luxembourg soldier stationed in Kosovo.  When the two 
eventually had a child out of wedlock, Prince Louis lost his 
claim to the throne.  The two eventually married and had a 
second child and in June 2009, the Grand Ducal Family finally 
bestowed a full royal title and privileges on his wife, the 
newly-coronated Princess Tessy.  (NOTE:  Prince Louis and his 
family are currently in the United States in F-visa status, 
while Prince Louis is studying at Florida Institute of 
Technology. END NOTE) 
 
¶5.  (U) Luxembourg has not lost a soldier on deployment in 
recent memory. 
 
¶6.  (U) Post point of contact is (acting0 POL/ECON Chief Adam 
Center, (e-mail: CenterAM@state.gov). 
 
BIEDLINGMAIER