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