VZCZCXRO1549
RR RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHRK #0023 0501648
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 191648Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3571
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L REYKJAVIK 000023
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2018
TAGS: PREL UNMIK PGOV YI IC
SUBJECT: ICELAND EXPECTS TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO
FEBRUARY 22
REF: A) State 16319; B) Reykjavik 00020; C) State 15111; and D)
State 13716
Classified by Ambassador Carol van Voorst for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Foreign Minister Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir told the
Ambassador February 19 that the government had discussed the
independence issue and she expects the GOI to make an announcement
recognizing Kosovo on February 22. She noted that Iceland had not
been the first country to recognize Kosovo, as it had been with the
Baltic states and Montenegro, because "Kosovo is a different case."
2. (U) The government has not said anything in public regarding a
date for recognition. The State Broadcasting Service (RUV) has
however reported the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will make a
statement soon confirming that Iceland is "in harmony with other
European states."
van Voorst