UKRAINE 2008 SPECIAL 301 NOTIFICATION DELIVERED

UNCLAS KYIV 000828 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/UMB AND EB/TPP/IPE STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR FOR BURKHEAD/GROVES USDOC FOR 4201/DOC/ITA/MAC/BISNIS USDOC FOR 4231/ITA/OEENIS/NISD/CLUCYCK SOFIA FOR MLAMBERTI E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A TAGS: ETRD KIPR UP SUBJECT: UKRAINE 2008 SPECIAL 301 NOTIFICATION DELIVERED REF: STATE 43162 ¶1. Deputy Econ Counselor delivered reftel points on the 2008 Special 301 report to Valentin Chebotaryov, Deputy Chairman of the State Department of Intellectual Property (SDIP),on April 24. Chebotaryov thanked the USG for its recognition of progress made in recent years and was delighted to learn that Ukraine would be moving from the Priority Watch List to the Watch List. Deputy Econ Counselor encouraged the GOU to continue the progress, with the goal of removing Ukraine from the Watch List entirely, and highlighted the USG desire to develop a joint action plan for this purpose. Chebotaryov expressed SDIP's willingness to continue cooperation, and had previously mentioned at a meeting of U.S.-Ukraine IPR Enforcement Cooperation Group (septel) that the government was considering the development of such an IPR action plan. ¶2. Chebotaryov also provided a letter addressed to Ambassador Susan Schwab (USTR),with background information on recent IPR-related developments in Ukraine. Post will send a copy of the letter to Washington by email and, if desired, the original letter through the pouch. ¶3. DCM and Economics Counselor also on April 24 reviewed reftel points with Head of the Second Territorial Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ihor Hrushko. Hrushko also expressed appreciation for the USTR decision and felt it reflected improved IPR protection on the ground in Ukraine. ¶4. Post will follow up the verbal demarche with letters outlining reftel points to the head of SDIP, to the Ministry of Economy, and to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. TAYLOR