UKRAINE: ICRC TO CLOSE ITS DELEGATION IN KYIV

C O N F I D E N T I A L KYIV 001553

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2016
TAGS: PHUM PGOV UP
SUBJECT: UKRAINE: ICRC TO CLOSE ITS DELEGATION IN KYIV

Classified By: Acting POL Counselor for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: The Head of the Kyiv Regional Delegation of
the International Committee of the Red Cross/Red Crescent
(ICRC) informed Post on August 7 that it will close its Kyiv
delegation later this year. The reasons given were its
strategy to consolidate regional operations, position itself
closer to conflict areas, and to cut operational costs.
Delegation Head Jean-Jacques Bovay explained that its
regional activities were either completed, will be handed
over to the host government (in the case of Ukraine),or will
be managed by its Moscow delegation. Bovay said that the GoU
seemed unconcerned by the closure and that he will make the
news public in late September.


2. (C) We were surprised by Bovay's account of the GoU's
indifference towards the ICRC's closure in Kyiv. Bovay
acknowledged that the GoU's preoccupation with political
infighting and the summer holidays likely had something to do
with its muted response. Although Post has not worked
closely with the ICRC Delegation in Kyiv, we believe that its
presence was useful in promoting a focus on international
humanitarian law issues within Ukraine and hope that it will
continue to provide a presence in Kyiv from its delegation in
Moscow. With recent developments in Georgia, Post will stay
in contact with ICRC Kyiv to see if it may change its closure
plans in order to deal with any inflows of migrants fleeing
the conflict areas. End Summary and Comment.

Kyiv ICRC Delegation to Close In November 2008
-------------- -


3. (C) The Head of the Kyiv Regional Delegation of the ICRC,
Jean-Jacques Bovay, told PolOff on August 7 that his
organization will close its office in Kyiv later this year.
Bovay explained that the ICRC, which has been in operation in
Kyiv since 1995 covering Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova, had
concluded some of its activities, will hand over some its
programs to the host government (in the case of Ukraine),or
will continue to run them from its Moscow delegation. He
explained that the decision to close the delegation in Kyiv
was made because of the need to consolidate its operations in
the region, hand over ownership of some of its programs to
the host government where appropriate, position itself closer
to conflict areas, and to cut the rising cost of maintaining
its office in Kyiv.


4. (C) Bovay explained that ICRC's mandate to provide
protections to detainees in Moldova was no longer necessary
with the recent release of all detainees of concern. In the
case of Belarus, he said its Moscow delegation would take
over discussions with the Government of Belarus regarding two
persons of concern still in detention. He said that
activities with Ukraine's armed services to promote
international humanitarian law (IHL) would be taken over by
the GoU, while activities to advise Ukrainian authorities on
IHL treaty implementation, IHL training for security
services, and training on the law of armed conflict will be
managed by its delegation in Moscow. He said that activities
to promote IHL at Ukrainian schools and universities will be
assumed by Ukraine's Ministry of Education and Science. He
added that ICRC financial support for the Ukrainian Red Cross
will continue at slightly higher levels than in previous
years.


5. (C) Bovay explained that he was in the process informing
Embassies of major ICRC donor countries as well as NGOs and
international organizations involved with refugees, including
the UNHCR. He mentioned that he had already informed the GoU
and seemed dismayed at its apparent indifference to the news.
He expressed concern that the GoU did not fully appreciate
ICRC's contributions and mentioned that the MFA was only
concerned about maintaining the status of its agreement with
the ICRC, which Bovay confirmed would remain in force. He
intends to travel to Minsk later this month to inform the
Government of Belarus and will release the information to the
public at the end of September. He projected the closure
date will be in mid-November of this year.


6. (U) Visit Embassy Kyiv's classified website:
www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/kiev.
PETTIT