UKRAINE: ARMS SALES TO BURMA - DEMARCHE DELIVERED

C O N F I D E N T I A L KYIV 002932 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT ALSO FOR EUR/UMB, EUR/PRA, EAP/MLS A. COPE, & PM/RSAT ¶T. LISTON E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2017 TAGS: PARM PREL PHUM BM UP SUBJECT: UKRAINE: ARMS SALES TO BURMA - DEMARCHE DELIVERED REF: STATE 161823 Classified By: Political Counselor Kent Logsdon for reasons 1.4(b,d) ¶1. (C) We delivered reftel talking points urging termination of arms deals with Burma on November 30 to MFA Arms Control and Military Technical Cooperation Counselor Oleh Belokolos. Belokolos noted that, while conventional arms sales were not in his direct portfolio, MFA was aware of the general nature of our request and inclined to be supportive. A decision such as this, however, outside the scope of current multilateral arms control regimes and with financial implications for Ukrainian state-owned enterprises, would require a Ukrainian government interagency decision. Given the current political uncertainty, Belokolos said he was unlikely to be able to provide an early response. MFA would put the matter on the agenda for the next meeting of the ministerial-level Commission on Arms Control and Military-technical Cooperation, but he did not know when the commission was likely to meet next. (Note: Political parties are still negotiating on the selection of a Prime Minister and Cabinet after Parliamentary elections September 30, and the current government has been in acting status since November 23.) ¶2. (U) Visit Embassy Kyiv's classified website: www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/kiev. Taylor