UKRAINE: AMBASSADOR ADDRESSES PARLIAMENT COMMITTEE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KYIV 000705 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC FOR M A HAYWARD; DEPT ALSO FOR EUR/NCE, EUR/PRA - M AZEVEDO, EUR/PPD - T CORN, AND VCI/MDSP - S ROSENKRANTZ E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2017 TAGS: PREL MARR MCAP PINR RS PL EZ US UP SUBJECT: UKRAINE: AMBASSADOR ADDRESSES PARLIAMENT COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN'S MISSILE DEFENSE CONCERNS REF: KYIV 668 Classified By: Political Counselor Kent Logsdon for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) Ambassador had a discussion on U.S. missile defense plans March 26 with parliament (Verkhovna Rada) Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Vitaly Shybko. Shybko said his Committee on Foreign Affairs and the other committee of jurisdiction, the Committee on National Security and Defense, had earlier examined the issue and chosen not to take a position until technical experts had had an opportunity to examine the facts. Unfortunately, a Rada member (i.e., Communist Party member Deputy Speaker Adam Martyniuk) had forced the issue by tabling a draft Rada resolution. Shybko noted that no one had listened to First Deputy Defense Minister Polyakov and Deputy Foreign Minister Veselovsky's March 22 briefing to the Verkhovna Rada (reftel) because all the Rada members that attended the briefing had already formed their positions. ¶2. (C) Shybko said the 2003 special law on security had warned against measures that created an imbalance in Ukrainian foreign policy; Ambassador stressed that the planned missile defense emplacement would not create an imbalance since it was intended solely to counter a possible Iranian ballistic missile capability. Shybko's other questions continued to explore the possible impact of U.S. missile defense plans on Russia, with Ambassador emphasizing U.S. desire for transparency with all countries potentially affected by its plans. ¶3. (C) At the end of the meeting, Shybko opined that Rada Chairman Oleksandr Moroz might elect to drag out discussion of the resolution in the committees, or move forward on a resolution full of "lawyerly" language, without much significance. Shybko said he would discuss next steps with Rada Chairman Moroz. Ambassador offered to brief Moroz, either separately or together with Shybko. Shybko said he would be leaving with Moroz March 27 for a familiarization trip to China, returning March 31. He would relay Ambassador's suggestion to him. ¶4. (C) Comment: Shybko is a relative moderate for a Socialist Party member and has some familiarity with the technical issues related to missile defense, since he started his working career as an engineer with the Yuzhnoye/Pivdenne design bureau, which developed Soviet ICBMs, in the late 1960s. He could have some influence with fellow Socialist Party member Moroz, but he is likely to keep a low profile on the missile defense issue. The Party of Regions increased the number of seats on the Foreign Affairs Committee in order to hold a majority, and Shybko will act carefully so as to be sure to retain his chairmanship. ¶5. (U) Visit Embassy Kyiv's classified website: www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/kiev. Taylor