C O N F I D E N T I A L KIEV 001160

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2016
TAGS: PREL PINR PBTS OSCE
SUBJECT: UKRAINE/MOLDOVA/TRANSNISTRIA: RUSSIAN AID CONVOY,
GOU PROPOSAL TO TEMPORARILY EASE CUSTOMS REGIME

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


1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para 6.

Maintaining the new customs regime
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2. (C) Ambassador delivered ref A points on Ukraine's
Transnistria-related customs proposal to Foreign Minister
Borys Tarasyuk March 24. Tarasyuk asked whether we wanted
the current border controls to change, to which Ambassador
replied that we did not, that the current customs arrangement
was acceptable and that it had taken a long time to reach
this acceptable situation. Ambassador noted that
Transnistria was essentially blockading itself. Tarasyuk
said he understood. When Ambassador asked for more detail on
Ukraine's plans, Tarasyuk repeated that he understood our
position. (Discussion then turned to the March 26 Rada
(parliament) and local elections -- septel.)


3. (C) Separately March 24, DCM delivered the
Transnistria-related customs proposal points to MFA Second
Territorial Department Deputy Director Ihor Prokopchuk.
Prokopchuk thanked DCM for the nonpaper delivered earlier
(ref B) and responded that Ukraine very much appreciated U.S.
and EU support on the implementation of the customs regime
and offered the clarification on the proposal that it
pertained only to a small number of trucks trapped on
Ukrainian territory at the time when the customs regime was
introduced. Prokopchuk explained that about ten vehicles
that had passed onto Ukrainian territory and been stopped
were now blocking a checkpoint. Transnistrian authorities
would not allow them to return, and the GOU proposal was
intended as a one-time procedure relating only to those
vehicles.


4. (C) Asked if the GOU had attempted to persuade
Transnistrian authorities to allow the stranded trucks to
return, Prokopchuk explained they had, but without
significant results. He noted that the having the trucks
stranded there served Transnistrian interests, impeded
traffic, and created a negative atmosphere. DCM noted that
Transnistria had created this problem and it would be helpful
to push back. On the question of timing for this move,
Prokopchuk responded that GOU was looking for a consensus and
noted the measure had been discussed with, and received
rather positively by, the OSCE head in Moldova.


5. (C) Comment: We are not certain what to make of
Tarasyuk's response, but he seemed distracted, no doubt by
the upcoming elections. In any case, we registered our
opposition to the Ukrainian proposal, and will look to
revisit this issue with Tarasyuk after the elections.


6. (C) Action request: Please advise how to respond to the
GOU explanation that their proposal involved a one-time,
specifically targeted relaxation of the rules instead of a
more open-ended "temporary" move.

Russian humanitarian aid convoy making its way across Ukraine
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7. (C) On March 24 DCM also delivered ref C points on Russian
"humanitarian aid" to Transnistria. Prokopchuk assured DCM
that there was never any question that the trucks would be
allowed to pass. The trucks had arrived at the border
without any documents and waited four hours until documents
were sent over. About two hours after crossing the border,
several trucks ran out of gas and spent two hours filling
their tanks. During the course of seven hours they proceeded
only 200 km despite the police escort provided to them. The
convoy was close to Chernihiv during the afternoon and
probably would be off Ukrainian territory by the end of the
day. Prokopchuk noted that Russia only requested permission
from Moldova for the goods to enter Moldovan territory after
a GOU press conference called attention to the fact that
Russia had not done so. He noted that the GOU was terming
Russia's move a provocation and a politically motivated
attempt to politicize the border regime, support the
separatist forces, and influence the mood in the run-up to
Ukraine's elections.


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