UKRAINE: ACTING FM URGES USG SUPPORT FOR UKRAINIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L KYIV 002256 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM UP SUBJECT: UKRAINE: ACTING FM URGES USG SUPPORT FOR UKRAINIAN AS HEAD OF OSCE MISSION IN KOSOVO REF: KYIV 1972 Classified By: Political Counselor Kent Logsdon for reasons 1.4(a,b,d). ¶1. (C) The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry continues to press for U.S. support for Ukraine's candidate to be the next OSCE Head of Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Anatoliy Oliynyk, currently Ukraine's Ambassador to both Serbia and Montenegro. During an August 31 meeting with the Ambassador, Acting Foreign Minister Khandohiy said that Ukraine had redoubled its efforts to garner support for Oliynyk, noting that this was an important initiative for Ukraine. Khandohiy highlighted Ukraine's strong support for the USG approach to Kosovo and said that gaining this position of OSCE HOM was a key goal. In Khandohiy's view, Oliynyk would also be an acceptable candidate for the Russians, who were actively complaining in Vienna about the OSCE. Director of the MFA's International Organizations Department Sergiy Kyslytsya made a similar pitch to Polcouns on August 30, noting the importance of gaining this appointment for Ukraine's commitment to the organization. As previously reported reftel, Kyslytsya noted the absence of Ukrainians in any high-level OSCE post and said that Ukraine's contributions to the organization should be recognized. ¶2. (C) During Ukrainian Independence Day events on August 24, Ambassador Oliynyk, in Kyiv for a meeting of Ukrainian Ambassadors, sought out the Ambassador to introduce himself and to personally lobby for U.S. support for his candidacy. Oliynyk assured the Ambassador that he was eager to take the job and ready to work closely with the USG in support of our policies in Kosovo. ¶3. (C) Action Request. Embassy would appreciate instructions as to how to respond to the Ukrainian request for support. ¶4. (C) Visit Embassy Kyiv's classified website: www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/kiev. Taylor