UKRAINE'S A/FM KHANDOGIY TELLS NATO MINISTERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USNATO 000632 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2017 TAGS: PREL NATO MARR KCFE PARM BO SUBJECT: UKRAINE'S A/FM KHANDOGIY TELLS NATO MINISTERS DECEMBER 7 THAT UKRAINE AIMS FOR MAP, NRF PARTICIPATION REF: A. KYIV 2947 ¶B. 12/06 USNATO-EUR/RPM E-MAIL Classified By: Ambassador Victoria Nuland for reasons 1.4 (b),(d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) At the NATO-Ukraine Commission (NUC) Ministerial meeting at NATO Headquarters on December 7, Acting Foreign Minister Khandogiy forecast a Ukrainian request to launch a NATO Membership Action Plan at the April 2008 Summit in Bucharest and announced Ukraine's readiness to contribute forces to the NATO Response Force. He supported NATO's position on keeping the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty in force while working to amend it. Ambassador Nuland affirmed support for Ukraine's engagement with NATO, hoped for a timely formation of a new government before NATO could seriously consider the MAP request, and urged an effective public information campaign about the reality of the NATO-Ukraine relationship to the Ukrainian people. Other Allies supported Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations and contributions to operations, but also called on Ukraine to form a government and meet deadlines for assessing its performance on the 2007 Annual Target Plan (ATP) and approving the 2008 Plan. All other speakers avoided commenting directly on Ukraine's MAP request. End Summary. GREAT EXPECTATIONS -------------- ¶2. (C) A/FM Volodymyr Khandogiy told Allied Foreign Ministers and Ambassadors that Ukraine's parliamentary elections had demonstrated the nation's "pro-European choice." He stated that Ukraine had now "exceeded the Intensified Dialogue level" of cooperation with NATO, and pointed to the similarity of the NATO-Ukraine Annual Target Plan (ATP) to the NATO Membership Action Plans (MAP) undertaken by nations on a formal accession track with the Alliance. Building on that, Khandogiy announced Ukraine's intention to: - finalize the decision to request MAP at the Bucharest Summit, "neither artificially speeding up, nor slowing down" Ukraine's accession to full membership; - undertake expert level discussion with the Alliance on a Ukrainian contribution to the NATO Response Force (NRF); - further enhance Ukraine's contributions to NATO-led operations (adding a team of medics to ISAF and a second vessel to Operation Active Endeavor); and - approve the 2008 ATP "in the coming days." ¶3. (C) Khandogiy forthrightly supported the CFE Treaty as a "key instrument for preserving peace and stability in Europe," supporting NATO's position that it should remain in force pending negotiations to implement and ratify an adapted treaty. He expressed appreciation for NATO Trust Funds, in particular the U.S.-led TF for eliminating excess munitions, the "largest such project in the world." ALLIES ENCOURAGE PRACTICAL COOPERATION -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Ambassador Nuland affirmed U.S. support for Ukraine and its NATO aspirations, citing the U.S.-led Trust Fund and Ukraine's contributions to NATO-led operations as examples of the mutual support of Ukraine and the Alliance. She looked forward to the timely formation of a new government, urging all parties to send clear signals of support for Ukraine's NATO integration as a prerequisite for serious Alliance consideration of a MAP request. She also encouraged a stepped-up information campaign on NATO within Ukraine to dispel the image of NATO as a "four letter word." ¶5. (SBU) Thirteen other Allied reps (including the Polish, Estonian, Hungarian, and Romanian FMs as well as Slovakian and Greek Political Directors) also responded supportively, with new Allies generally hopeful Ukraine could move to the next level and others more cautious. Common themes were the observation that Ukraine is the only NATO Partner nation that contributes to all NATO-led missions and operations; support for Ukraine's free and fair elections as compared to recent elections in Russia; calls on Ukraine to swiftly form a government; complete the 2007 ATP self-assessment and approve the 2008 ATP; and recognition that much work remained to be done to build public support in Ukraine for NATO integration. DELIVERABLES -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Allies expressed disappointment that Ukraine was unwilling or unable to approve the 2007 ATP Assessment or the USNATO 00000632 002 OF 003 2008 ATP program without the explicit authorization of a new government in Kyiv. These documents were to have been the primary deliverables for the ministerial. Still, FMs noted the Military Committee with Ukraine Work Plan for 2008 (REF B - NUC(C)D(2007)0006) and approved a Joint Statement (below - NUC(C)D(2007)0007),negotiated by the NUC Political Committee. JOINT STATEMENT -------------- ¶7. (U) Following is the text of the Joint Statement. Note internal numbering: NATO-UKRAINE COMMISSION AT THE LEVEL OF FOREIGN MINISTERS BRUSSELS, 7 DECEMBER 2007 JOINT STATEMENT (1) Foreign Ministers of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, meeting today in Brussels, underscored the importance of the NATO-Ukraine Distinctive Partnership for security and stability throughout the Euro-Atlantic area and in this context recalled the tenth anniversary of the Charter on a Distinctive Partnership. They took stock of the progress achieved in NATO-Ukraine cooperation since their last meeting. Ministers also discussed the foreign and security policy priorities of Ukraine and the prospects for the development of the NATO-Ukraine relationship, including the NATO-Ukraine Action Plan and the Intensified Dialogue on Ukraine,s aspirations to NATO membership and relevant reforms, without prejudice to any eventual Alliance decision. (2) Welcoming Acting Foreign Minister Khandogiy,s statement on recent developments in Ukraine, Allied Ministers noted with satisfaction Ukraine,s democratic reforms and expressed confidence in their continuation. They welcomed the conduct of free and fair parliamentary elections to the Verkhovna Rada in September 2007 and the formation of a governing coalition. Ministers looked forward to the timely formation of a government in Ukraine. (3) Re-affirming their commitment to the success of NATO's operations and missions, Ministers welcomed their ongoing operational cooperation in the context of Operation Active Endeavour, including the deployment of a second Ukrainian vessel, the corvette Lutsk; ISAF, including through Ukraine,s contribution to PRT efforts; KFOR; as well as in NATO Training Mission Iraq. Allied Ministers expressed appreciation for Ukraine,s active support for all NATO-led operations and missions. They noted with satisfaction and further encouraged Ukraine,s contributions to security in its region and beyond. Ministers noted the Work Plan of the Military Committee with Ukraine for the year 2008. (4) Ministers reviewed the progress that had been made throughout 2007 in reforming Ukraine,s defence and security sectors, including in the framework of the NATO-Ukraine Joint Working Group on Defence Reform (JWGDR). In this context, they welcomed in particular Ukraine,s progress in implementing a comprehensive review of its security sector. Allied Ministers also encouraged Ukraine to continue to implement effective reforms in its defence and security institutions. Ministers noted the progress made in the framework of the NATO/PfP Trust Fund projects for the destruction of small arms, light weapons and man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) and for the retraining and resettlement of released military personnel, and encouraged their continued successful implementation. (5) Ministers noted Ukraine,s reaffirmation of its strategic course of Euro-Atlantic integration aimed at achieving full membership in the Alliance. Ukraine,s Acting Foreign Minister emphasised that continued support for Ukraine,s Euro-Atlantic aspirations would be appreciated. In this regard, Allied Ministers welcomed Ukraine,s reconfirmation of its determination to follow through on relevant reforms. (6) Recalling the Riga Summit Declaration, Allied Ministers reiterated that NATO,s door remains open to European democracies willing and able to assume the responsibilities of membership, in accordance with Article 10 of the Washington Treaty. Ministers stressed the fruitful cooperation in the Intensified Dialogue and underscored that further stages toward achieving Ukraine,s Euro-Atlantic integration goals would depend primarily upon concrete, measurable progress in the implementation of key reforms and policies. (7) Ministers looked forward to the prompt adoption of an ambitious NATO-Ukraine Annual Target Plan for 2008, and its timely and determined implementation. They underlined the importance of informing the Ukrainian people about USNATO 00000632 003 OF 003 NATO-Ukraine cooperation. Ministers agreed to keep Ukraine,s progress under review. Allied Ministers reaffirmed their continued readiness to assist Ukraine in the implementation of its reform goals, in particular in the fields of defence and security sector reform. (8) Ministers looked forward to holding a summit meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission in April 2008 in Bucharest. NULAND