INFORMING BELARUS, KAZAKHSTAN, AND UKRAINE OF U.S.

UNCLAS MOSCOW 000802 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM KACT START US UP BO KZ RS SUBJECT: INFORMING BELARUS, KAZAKHSTAN, AND UKRAINE OF U.S. INTENTIONS TO PURSUE BILATERAL START FOLLOW-ON AGREEMENT: RUSSIAN RESPONSE REF: STATE 30048 We delivered reftel demarche to Vladimir Yermakov, MFA Director for Strategic Capabilities Policy on March 31. Yermakov expressed appreciation for the notification, commenting that there had been a preliminary discussion with the Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukrainian delegations at the last session of the Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission (JCIC) meeting that the follow-on to the START Treaty would be a bilateral agreement between the U.S. and Russia. He said Moscow had intended to follow up with the three countries, but it had not happened. In any event, Russia and the U.S. agreed that the follow-on treaty should be a bilateral one. He expected there would be further discussion at the next JCIC and said Russia would like to consult with the U.S. on a joint position prior to that meeting. BEYRLE