UKRAINE/SUDAN: UKRAINIAN HELICOPTERS FOR UNAMID

C O N F I D E N T I A L KYIV 000285

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT ALSO FOR IO, PM, EUR/UMB AND EUR/RPM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2018
TAGS: PREL MARR KPKO SU UP
SUBJECT: UKRAINE/SUDAN: UKRAINIAN HELICOPTERS FOR UNAMID

REF: A. KYIV 158

B. STATE 6694

C. 07 KYIV 2720

D. 07 KYIV 2677

E. 07 KYIV 2515

Classified By: Ambassador for reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) Summary/recommendation: Ambassador continues to raise
the urgency of the UN request for military helicopters to
support the UN African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID),most
recently in separate February 4 meetings with DefMin
Yekhanurov and FM Ohryzko. Both officials stated the
Ukrainian government is seriously considering ways to support
UNAMID. We recommend that U.S. officials continue to raise
the issue at the highest levels as opportunities present
themselves, but the most effective appeals could well come
from continued UN engagement with Ukrainian counterparts. We
believe that the best USG approach to Ukraine is to continue
to press for the transfer of assets currently deployed with
the UN mission in Liberia to Darfur, as requested by the UN.
However, even if the Government makes a decision to support
UNAMID, Ukraine's parliament must still pass legislation to
approve the deployment, suggesting that Ukraine may not be
able to respond in time to meet UNAMID's immediate
operational requirement. (Note: The government has a
razor-thin majority in Parliament and, until February 5, the
opposition has prevented any parliamentary action by
physically blocking the rostrum.) End summary/recommendation.


2. (C) During a February 4 meeting, Ambassador noted to
Defense Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov that President Bush had
raised the question of helicopters for Darfur, to include
attack helicopters, at the end of his telephone conversation
with Ukrainian President Yushchenko. Ambassador said he
understood the UN had proposed that, in light of the limited
availability of Ukrainian military helicopters, Ukraine shift
its helicopter unit from the operation in Liberia to the
higher priority task of supporting UNAMID. While the
Ambassador was aware that such a shift would require the
Ukrainian Parliament's eventual approval, he asked Yekhanurov
to consider the option carefully.


3. (C) Yekhanurov said the Ministry of Defense (MoD) had
received a presidential order to review the situation
regarding a Ukrainian contribution to Darfur. In addition to
responding to the presidential request, MoD would expand the
potential of a private entity, Ukrainian Helicopter Company,
by providing it the opportunity to lease additional military
cargo helicopters to operate in Africa and Asia. Ambassador
noted that a necessary component of the Darfur operation was
the support of military attack helicopters; Yekhanurov said
he understood.


4. (C) Ambassador also raised the issue with Foreign Minister
Volodymyr Ohryzko during a separate meeting later on February

4. Ohryzko said he could not report any new developments,
but noted again that Ukraine had provided civilian
helicopters being used in Darfur. He also acknowledged the
possibility of transferring military helicopters, including
attack helicopters, from Liberia to UNAMID, and pointed out
the decision would require parliamentary approval.


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