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

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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