UKRAINE: MFA OFFICIAL ON OSCE REFORM, PROJECT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KIEV 000477 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/03/2016 TAGS: PREL OSCE SUBJECT: UKRAINE: MFA OFFICIAL ON OSCE REFORM, PROJECT COORDINATOR IN UKRAINE Classified By: Political Counselor Aubrey A. Carlson for reasons 1.4(b, d) ¶1. (C) Summary: MFA OSCE Department Counselor Volodymyr Tolkach expressed to us January 18 the Ukrainian government's support for OSCE reform. OSCE reform should include some provision that ensures a single country cannot block an OSCE decision. At the same time, Tolkach argued, there should be balance among the OSCE institutions of the Secretary General, Permanent Council, and Chairman in Office; new procedures and agreements were also necessary to ensure better coordination among OSCE offices and between OSCE and its member states. There should be greater attention to the economic dimension, and the addition of a "security dimension," focusing on border security, law enforcement, anti-trafficking and the like, might be desirable. Ukraine wanted to be more active in OSCE, including by having a greater percentage of its nationals filling OSCE positions. Tolkach appreciated contributions from the Project Coordinator in Ukraine office and talked as if he expected projects to continue beyond ¶2006. End summary. A Positive Ukrainian Attitude -------------- ¶2. (C) MFA OSCE Department Counselor Volodymyr Tolkach said the large Ukrainian delegation to the 2005 OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) in Warsaw was evidence of the positive change in Ukraine's view of, and relations with, OSCE. Representatives from seven ministries ensured, for the first time, that the Ukrainian delegation was prepared to discuss the entire range of issues raised at the meeting. Other evidence of Ukraine's changed attitude was its close cooperation with OSCE to prepare for the dispatch of 60 long-term and 600 short-term observers for the March parliamentary (Rada) elections. Tolkach said the Ukrainian government understood well that the elections would be a prime indicator of Ukraine's readiness to move toward a more European model. ¶3. (U) Stressing that the OSCE human dimension was important to Ukraine, Tolkach said the Ukrainian government was determined to conduct elections in a proper manner and, in doing so, to meet its OSCE commitments. This was a priority for President Yushchenko, who had personally invited the OSCE and Council of Europe to send an election observation mission. Foreign Minister Tarasyuk had paralleled the invitation with his own to OSCE Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Director Strohal. Ukraine would not invite observers from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) as an institution, but would welcome the participation of citizens from CIS member countries. Frozen Conflicts -------------- ¶4. (C) Tolkach noted Ukraine had increased its involvement in the resolution of the so-called "frozen conflicts," especially Transnistria, in further fulfillment of its OSCE commitments. Tolkach participated in an MFA working group on Transnistria that met regularly and included representatives from the MFA Political Department, the Arms Control Department and the Department of Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation. GOU representatives from outside MFA, e.g., National Security and Defense Council, Ministry of Defense, State Border Guard Service, would also often sit in. As part of its participation in OSCE and partly because of Ukraine's interest in the frozen conflicts, Tolkach offered that Ukraine would want to play a greater role in OSCE missions. Currently, only one Ukrainian staffed OSCE missions in Central Asia, in Bishkek, an area where Tolkach noted Ukrainians could be particularly effective. OSCE Reform -------------- ¶5. (C) Noting that the Ukrainian government would like to see a more open, transparent, and "perhaps stronger" OSCE, Tolkach said Ukraine would like to see OSCE reforms implemented. Currently, some institutions under the OSCE umbrella appeared to act without sufficient oversight and political direction. An OSCE charter could establish basic operating principles and allow better regulation of various OSCE elements. For example, Ukraine had proposed a project on local media freedom to OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Miklos Haraszti but had not received a response. In another case, Ukraine was dismayed that the Office of the Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environment Activities had launched its ENVSEC initiative without discussion by member states within the OSCE framework. Tolkach said the initiative had laudable aims and would probably enjoy wide support, but nevertheless should have received an appropriate review on the political level. ¶6. (C) Tolkach provided an example from his own experience of the problems created by the lack of clarity in OSCE structures and operating procedures. He said Ukraine had proposed a cooperative project on anti-Semitism and xenophobia to ODIHR. ODIHR, in accordance with its regulations, asked that the MFA nominate a "national focal point." The MFA selected an academic to develop the program, but was then dismayed when ODIHR asked the academic to set up high-level meetings, including with Ukrainian ministers, that was beyond the individual's capacity. ¶7. (C) Tolkach said that, while Ukraine wished to adopt new rules of procedure, Ukraine would also carefully examine all proposals. It did not want to recreate structural problems inherent, for example, in the UN system. The OSCE Secretary General should not be strengthened at the expense of the Permanent Council, Tokach warned. There should be balance among the OSCE's primary institutions -- the Secretary General, the Permanent Council, and the Chairman-in-Office (CiO). Tolkach expressed a desire for a reformed OSCE that would not allow one country to block OSCE decisions, such as occurred with budget approval in 2005. At the same time, an overly powerful secretary general would also not be good. OSCE Reform -- Greater Balance -------------- ¶8. (C) Tolkach expressed support for greater attention to the economic dimension, noting Ukraine's desire to obtain progress in implementing the melange fuel project. Ukraine would support the establishment of a new OSCE institution to buttress the economic dimension further. Ukraine also supported the Belgian CiO's call to hold an international conference on energy security for Europe, and would even consider hosting the conference. Tolkach suggested OSCE could define a new dimension that would group its activity in the areas of anti-terrorism, border security, anti-trafficking, and organized crime. Ukraine had seen a good effect from the development of the concept and approach in the Balkans and cooperation to improve border security among Albania, Macedonia, and Serbia and Montenegro. More Ukrainians in OSCE -------------- ¶9. (C) Tolkach said OSCE reform should be directed toward achieving greater gender and geographic balance among OSCE staff and efforts to develop their professional skills. He noted only 1.6 percent of OSCE employees were Ukrainian. In the past, OSCE had responded positively when Ukraine urged an increase in the level of Ukrainian participation, but no concrete steps followed, Tolkach complained. ODIHR employed a Ukrainian national, but she was a contract employee who filled a technical position. Project Coordinator in Ukraine -------------- ¶10. (C) Tolkach said Ukraine's relationship with the previous head of the Project Coordinator in Ukraine (PCU) office were excellent, but that relations with Ambassador Schumaker (note: who arrived in Kiev in fall 2005) were amicable. He appreciated PCU assistance, such as to the Central Election Commission, in commercial and economic development in western Ukraine, and in the destruction of melange rocket fuel. Tolkach's office was engaged with PCU in development of calendar year 2006 projects. Tolkach suggested he would like to be able to review the projects with PCU again at the end of the year, to determine which had been effective and which not, so as to be able to adjust the mix of projects in the future. Altruism and Self-interest -------------- ¶11. (C) Comment: We pass on Tolkach's observations as an indicator of Ukrainian views toward OSCE, although, to some degree, his comments might have reflected his personal thoughts and not fully coordinated Ukrainian government positions. While a greater level of Ukrainian involvement in OSCE is consistent with its broader diplomatic support for democratic principles (e.g., Ukrainian sponsorship of the Community of Democratic Choice),the Ukrainian government also is pushing for a greater return on its membership in terms of the share of OSCE positions held by Ukrainians. ¶12. (U) Visit Embassy Kiev's classified website: www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/kiev. HERBST