UKRAINE: MFA DIRECTOR BELASHOV ON BLACK SEA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KIEV 001354 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT ALSO FOR EUR/UMB, EUR/PRA, EUR/RPM, AND EUR/NCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2016 TAGS: PARM MARR MOPS PREL NATO UP SUBJECT: UKRAINE: MFA DIRECTOR BELASHOV ON BLACK SEA ACTIVITY, NONPROLIFERATION WORKING GROUP MEETING REF: STATE 53052 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Sheila Gwaltney for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See para 8. ¶2. (C) Summary: During an April 5 meeting called at his request, MFA Military-Technical Cooperation and Arms Control Department Director Volodymyr Belashov asked us for the USG position regarding the Turkish-sponsored Operation Black Sea Harmony, the Romanian-sponsored Black Sea Border Security Initiative, and a Polish proposal to conduct jointly a Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) exercise. Belashov thanked the USG for its efforts to encourage international funding on Ukrainian government projects to combat nuclear smuggling. He said MFA was coordinating and preparing a letter proposing that the next session of the U.S.-Ukraine bilateral nonproliferation and export control working group meeting take place in June (in Kiev). End summary. Black Sea Activity -------------- ¶3. (C) Belashov said the Ukrainian government had made a preliminary decision to participate in the Turkish-sponsored Operation Black Sea Harmony. Noting that the multilateral exercise was quite similar to the NATO Operation Active Endeavor, with the notable exception that Black Sea Harmony would take place in the Black Sea and Active Endeavor in the Mediterranean, Belashov asked for USG views on Black Sea Harmony. For example, did the USG believe the two activities were in conflict or mutually reinforcing? Belashov said he would pose the same question later to NATO Liaison Office head James Greene to obtain NATO views. (Comment: While Belashov did not say so explicitly, the context of his question implied that the information would be a factor in the Ukrainian government's final decision on its participation in Operation Black Sea Harmony.) ¶4. (C) Belashov continued that he understood the USG had supported the Romanian Black Sea Border Security Initiative (BSBSI). While Ukraine had participated in two previous BSBSI exercises, Belashov noted the Romanian government had not included either Turkey or Russia within BSBSI. Since both countries were major Black Sea littoral states, Ukrainian officials were uncertain about the utility of continuing the exercise if the two nations were not included in the future. Belashov asked for USG views on BSBSI. ¶5. (C) Finally, Belashov asked for USG views on a Polish proposal to jointly sponsor with Ukraine a Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) exercise. He said the exercise envisioned actions taken to interdict an illegal smuggling operation from Georgia to Moldova through the Black Sea. While the Ukrainian government was unable to hold the exercise in 2006, it was discussing the possibility with the Polish government of doing so in 2007. Belashov discreetly inquired whether there was a possibility of USG funding for the exercise. (Note: Polish MFA Deputy Director Tadeusz Chomicki discussed this proposal during the February 5-6 U.S.-Ukraine bilateral nonproliferation working group meeting in Washington. At the time, he provided a copy of the proposal to EUR/PRA.) Nuclear Smuggling Initiative -------------- ¶6. (C) Belashov expressed appreciation for efforts by ISN/CTR Michael Stafford to obtain international funding for Ukrainian government projects to combat nuclear smuggling. Stafford and his delegation had identified about 15 high-priority projects from a list of about 40 that the Ukrainian government had provided. The March 21-22 G-8 Global Partnership working group meeting in Moscow had been useful in advancing these projects, both within the context of the larger meeting and in a side meeting called by the Ukrainian delegation with select countries. (See reftel.) Belashov said he hoped the USG would take the lead to fund a handful (i.e., "one to three") of the 15 projects under consideration to lead the way and to encourage other government contributions. Nonproliferation Working Group Meeting -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Belashov said he had instructed his subordinates to begin work on a letter proposing that the next bilateral KIEV 00001354 002 OF 002 nonproliferation and export control working group (NPWG) meeting be held sometime in June. (Note: Since the meetings alternate between Washington and Kiev, this next meeting would be in Kiev.) He hoped to provide a letter during the week of April 10 that, after coordination with other Ukrainian government ministries and agencies, would offer possible dates in June. The letter would also request USG views on a proposed agenda. Action request -------------- ¶8. (U) Request guidance on Belashov's inquiries in paras 3, 4, and 5. ¶9. (U) Visit Embassy Kiev's classified website: www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/kiev. Herbst