UKRAINE: AMBASSADOR URGES RAPID WTO ACCESSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L KYIV 004232

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

GENEVA FOR USTR
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR FOR KLEIN/MOLNAR
USDOC FOR 4231/ITA/OEENIS/NISD/CLUCYCK
STATE FOR EUR/UMB, EB/TPP/BTA, AND EB/TPP/MTA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2016
TAGS: ETRD PREL WTRO UP
SUBJECT: UKRAINE: AMBASSADOR URGES RAPID WTO ACCESSION

REF: A. STATE 180216


B. KYIV 4187

Classified By: AMBASSADOR, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) Ambassador delivered ref A points urging rapid WTO
accession to Mykola Azarov, First Deputy Prime Minister, in
the context of a broad ranging meeting on November 3.
Ambassador emphasized that Washington would be watching the
status of Ukraine's accession very closely and would consider
it an important indicator of the new government's direction.
Azarov acknowledged the significance of the issue but offered
no substantive comment.


2. (C) Ambassador also pressed for swift progress on WTO
accession during a November 2 lunch with Prime Minister
Viktor Yanukovych (ref B). Yanukovych promised forward
movement on accession, but cautioned that his government did
not want to force legislation through Parliament but would
proceed on "our own schedule."


3. (C) In addition, Ambassador highlighted ref A points
regarding importance of WTO accession as a signal of
Ukraine's foreign policy orientation to Rada Speaker Moroz on
November 7. Moroz said that the plan is to have all
legislation passed by early December to allow for Ukraine's
accession as soon as possible. However, he qualified his
comments, as he has in the past, that as the Rada passes this
legislation it must ensure that it protects Ukraine's
national interests and raised agricultural subsidies as a
possible stumbling block.
Taylor