1. (U) The December 1-2 visit to Turkey of Ukrainian PM
Yanukovych focused mainly on bilateral economic relations.
In the first-ever visit of the PM of an independent Ukraine
to Turkey, the two nations discussed bilateral trade and
signed environmental and cultural agreements. At the end of
the visit, Yanukovych invited PM Erdogan to visit Ukraine in
the spring.




2. (U) According to Ukrainian Embassy and Turkish MFA
officials, the visit focused mainly on bilateral economic
relations. Ukrainian Embassy officials said Turkey is
Ukraine's fourth leading trade partner. According to
Ukrainian figures, total bilateral trade was USD 1.4 billion
in 2002, consisting mostly of Ukrainian exports to Turkey.
Both sides pledged to double trade volume in 2004 and promote
more investment.




3. (U) The two sides also signed an environmental agreement.
Although they have not released the text, Ukrainian Embassy
officials said the agreement essentially repeated a dormant
agreement the two countries signed five years ago.




4. (SBU) Turkish officials raised concerns about increased
Black Sea oil tanker traffic through the Bosphorous, but did
not raise specific objections to the decision to reverse the
flow of the Odessa-Brody pipeline. Yanukovych avoided
discussion of the reversal decision but explained that
Ukraine had agreed with Poland to build an extension from
Brody to Plock in central Poland. The two sides agreed to
encourage Turkish firms to participate in the construction.




5. (SBU) The two sides discussed Ukraine's bid to join NATO.
PM Yanukovic requested GOT support for Ukraine's membership
action plan (MAP). The GOT, while generally supportive, told
the Ukrainians they needed to continue force upgrades. The
two side also agreed to continue regional counter-terrorism
and anti-crime cooperation.
EDELMAN