UKRAINE: ELIMINATION OF SCUD MISSILES

S E C R E T KYIV 001704 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT ALSO FOR ISN/MTR, EUR/UMB, EUR/PRA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2017 TAGS: MTCRE PARM PREL UP SUBJECT: UKRAINE: ELIMINATION OF SCUD MISSILES REF: A. STATE 97412 ¶B. KYIV 1561 Classified By: Political Counselor Kent Logsdon for reasons 1.4(b,c,d) ¶1. (C) We delivered ref A response July 13 to MFA Arms Control and Military Technical Cooperation Department Director Volodymyr Belashov and Counselor Oleksandr Bondarenko. Belashov directed Bondarenko to pass the information immediately to Deputy Minister of Defense Tereshchenko. Belashov also suggested that, when ready, the U.S. side should propose two alternative visit dates for the Ukrainians to consider. (Note: MOD would still require 2-3 weeks lead time in order to obtain access approval for the U.S. team of experts.) ¶2. (S) Belashov commented that, a few days previously, he had seen MOD action officer Volodymyr Popovych, who had passed the Scud inventory during the non-proliferation working group meeting. Belashov expressed bafflement why Popovych had even proposed an August timeframe for the U.S. visit, since Popovych mentioned that he would be on leave for the month of August. ¶3. (U) Visit Embassy Kyiv's classified website: www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/kiev. Taylor