UKRAINE: CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L KYIV 001023

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT ALSO FOR EUR/UMB AND EUR/PRA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2017
TAGS: PARM PREL UNGA CDG UP
SUBJECT: UKRAINE: CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT

REF: YOUNG/UYEHARA 4/19/07 E-MAIL

Classified By: Political Counselor Kent Logsdon for reasons 1.4(b,d)


1. (U) This is an action request. See para 4.


2. (C) We met April 20 with MFA Arms Control and Military
Technical Cooperation Department Deputy Director Pokotilo to
discuss the May 15 next session of the UN Conference on
Disarmament (CD) at MFA's request. Counselor Oleksandr
Bondarenko and attache Olena Syrota were also present. We
provided the materials transmitted to us ref e-mail
containing the text of the U.S.-proposed draft of a Fissile
Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT) and an accompanying white
paper. Pokotilo noted that MFA had begun the Ukrainian
government interagency process and opined that Ukraine would
be likely to adopt a positive stance.


3. (C) Pokotilo also noted that, while the CD had not reached
agreement on a program of work, the majority of its members
still consider it to be a useful venue to achieve important
goals. The CD had made some modest progress in the format of
informal consultations. In this regard, CD members had
received a Presidential Draft Decision March 23 proposing the
appointment of representatives of Norway, Italy, Canada, and
Brazil to head working groups on specific agenda items,
including the U.S. FMCT draft. Some CD members preferred to
agree on the entire program of work and negotiate on the
entire package, while others saw a benefit on consulting on
issues individually. Ukraine preferred to begin negotiating
on single issues.


4. (C) Action Request. Pokotilo requested U.S. views on the
way forward in the CD and, specifically, whether the U.S.
preferred to negotiate issues as a package or singly, and
asked what we thought about the proposal to appoint
representatives to head working groups on specific agenda
items. He also noted that the U.S. and Ukraine would be
co-presidents of the CD in 2008. He suggested that the U.S.
delegation in Geneva begin closer coordination with its
Ukrainian counterpart; the Ukrainian side would welcome this.
Pokotilo said he would send similar instructions to the
Ukrainian delegation to seek out additional contacts with
their U.S. counterparts. Request Department guidance to
respond to Pokotilo's inquiries.


5. (U) Visit Embassy Kyiv's classified website:
www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/kiev.
Taylor