UKRAINE/MOLDOVA/TRANSNISTRIA: YUSHCHENKO ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L KIEV 001135

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2016
TAGS: PREL PBTS PHUM PINR OSCE
SUBJECT: UKRAINE/MOLDOVA/TRANSNISTRIA: YUSHCHENKO ON
RUSSIAN "HUMANITARIAN" SHIPMENTS; DEMARCHES DELIVERED

Classified By: Ambassador for reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) In a March 23 meeting, President Yushchenko told
Ambassador that the Ukrainian government had learned March 21
that Russia planned to ship humanitarian assistance to the
Transnistrians. He had spoken to Russian Ambassador
Chernomyrdin and said the Russian shipment was an unfriendly
act because the Kremlin wanted to bring the shipments into
Ukraine at the farthest point from Transnistria, in Kharkiv.
Yushchenko said the shipment could go forward, but only on
condition that it enter Ukraine at Sumy and transit at night.
Chernomyrdin had agreed. Yushchenko commented the night
transit would minimize the possibility that Ne Tak bloc,
Party of Regions, or other opposition elements could
capitalize on the shipment to attack the government's
approach to Transnistria. The shipment would probably occur
on the night of March 23.


2. (C) Commenting on the lack of any basis for humanitarian
shipments, Yushchenko said, in the last three days,
Transnistria had received shipments of meat at a volume
sufficient to provide every resident with two kilograms each.
The Transnistrian authority had stopped 190 railroad freight
cars from entering, while Ukrainian customs had stopped only
19 cars that lacked the appropriate Moldovan customs seals.


3. (U) Note: Interfax reported later on March 23 that Russia
had agreed, according to Russian Emergency Situations
Minister Sergei Shoigu, to change its route. Based on a memo
from the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Shoigu said the Russian
convoy would pass through Kiev instead of Kharkiv. The
trucks also should not carry "any symbols of propaganda,"
travel at night, and do so within 12 hours.


4. (U) Note: We also conveyed ref a and b points (on Russian
humanitarian aid and a GOU Transnistria-related customs
proposal, respectively) to MFA Second Territorial Department
Deputy Director Ihor Prokopchuk and Special Envoy for
Transnistrian Affairs Dmytro Tkach.


5. (U) Visit Embassy Kiev's classified website:
www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/kiev.
Herbst