(U) SECRETARY CLINTON'S MARCH 5, 2009

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARTO 031925 NOFORN; SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2019 TAGS: OVIP CLINTON HILLARY PREL NATO UP RS SUBJECT: (U) SECRETARY CLINTON'S MARCH 5, 2009 Participation in the NATO-Ukraine Commission ¶1. (U) Classified by: Kenneth Merten, Deputy Executive Secretary, S/ES, Department of State. Reason 1.4.(d) ¶2. (U) March 5, 2009; 3:30 p.m.; Brussels, Belgium. ¶3. (U) Participants: U.S. The Secretary Ambassador Kurt Volker A/S Dan Fried, EUR Anne-Marie Slaughter, S/P Spokesman Robert Wood, PA Senior Director Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, NSC LTG Paul Selva Alejandro Baez (Notetaker) Ukraine Acting Foreign Minister Volodymyr Khandogiy Ambassador Ihor Sagach NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer Supreme Allied Commander GEN John Craddock Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee NATO Allies Belgium: Karel de Gucht, Foreign Minister Bulgaria: Ivallo Kalfin, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Canada: Lawrence Cannon, Foreign Minister Czech Republic: Karel Schwarzenberg, Foreign Minister Denmark: Per Stig Moller, Foreign Minister Estonia: Urmas Paet, Foreign Minister France: Bernard Kouchner, Foreign Minister Germany: Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Foreign Minister Greece: Dora Bakoyannis, Foreign Minister Hungary: Kinga Goncz, Foreign Minister Iceland: Thorsteinn Ingolfsson, Permanent Representative Italy: Franco Frattini, Foreign Minister Latvia: Maris Riekstins, Foreign Minister Lithuania: Vygaudas Usackas, Foreign Minister Luxembourg: Jean Asselborn, Foreign Minister Netherlands: Maxime Verhagen, Foreign Minister Norway: Jonas Gahr Store, Foreign Minister Poland: Radoslaw Sikorski, Foreign Minister Portugal: Luis Amado, Foreign Minister Romania: Cristian Diaconescu, Foreign Minister Slovakia: Miroslav Lajcak, Foreign Minister Slovenia: Samuel Zbogarmfa, Foreign Minister Spain: Miguel Angel Moratinos Cuyaube, Foreign Minister Turkey: Ali Babacan, Foreign Minister UK: David Miliband, Foreign Minister NATO Invitees Albania: Lulzim Basha, Foreign Minister Croatia Gordan Jandrokovic, Foreign Minister ¶4. (C/NF) SUMMARY. Acting Ukrainian FM Khandogiy told NATO Foreign Ministers that Ukraine was committed to its policy of Euro-Atlantic integration and the reforms necessary to achieve it, arguing that Russia should not have the right to veto NATO enlargement. He provided an update on the development of Ukraine's first Annual �00A;National Program, as well as of the implementation of other aspects of the decisions that were taken at the December NATO Foreign Ministerial. He said that Ukraine intended to increase its contribution to NATO's mission in Afghanistan. He also said that Kyiv would implement the gas agreement it had reached with Russia. ¶5. (C/NF) Secretary Clinton reiterated U.S. support for Ukraine's eventual NATO membership, while pointing out that it had much work to do to meet NATO standards. At the same time, she expressed her strong concerns about the lack of political unity in Kyiv, particularly during a time of economic crisis. These points were echoed by her Slovakian, Estonian, Canadian, Bulgarian, Hungarian, and Lithuanian colleagues. END SUMMARY. -------------- The Path to NATO Integration -------------- ¶6. (C/NF) Describing the NATO-Ukraine Commission meeting as timely and welcome, Acting Ukrainian FM Khandogiy said that Ukraine was committed to its policy of eventual NATO integration and would pursue the reforms necessary to achieve it. He reported that preparations for Kyiv's first Annual National Program (ANP) were in an advanced stage. He also noted that negotiations were underway to amend the NATO-Ukraine Charter in a manner consistent with the decision taken by NATO Foreign Ministers in December. He added that, since the original Charter had been signed by Heads of State and Government, Ukraine's position was that the Additional Protocol to the Charter should be signed at "the highest levels," as well. With regard to the implementation of NATO's decision to reinforce the two NATO offices in Kyiv, Khandogiy said that Kyiv had distributed a list of priority projects for which it was seeking assistance. ¶7. (C/NF) The Secretary said that the U.S. remains committed to the Bucharest Summit decision that Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance someday. At the same time, she emphasized that Ukraine had a long way to go if it is to meet NATO's performance-based standards. Estonian FM Paet echoed this message, pointing out that all elements of the country needed to be reformed, not just certain sectors. The Slovakian, Hungarian, Canadian, and Bulgarian Foreign Ministers all urged the Ukrainians to make the most of the tools now available to them, stressing the need for an ambitious, but realistic, ANP. -------------- Russia -------------- ¶8. (C/NF) Acknowledging the need for stable Ukraine- Russian relations, Khandogiy admitted that the recent tensions between the Alliance and Moscow had "not helped" in this regard. As a result, he said he understood the need for the Alliance to "press the reset button" on its relations with Moscow. At the same time, he said that Russia could not be given a veto over the decisions of either Kyiv or the Alliance, and that Russian efforts to assert a sphere of influence must be resisted. -------------- Operational Cooperation -------------- ¶9. (C/NF) Khandogiy said that Ukraine was exploring the possibility of increasing its participation in the NATO- led operation in Afghanistan. He also said Kyiv was finalizing negotiations with the Alliance on an Afghanistan-related transit agreement. Furthermore, he said that Ukraine was exploring how to further deepen its relationship with the Alliance on issues such as piracy, air situation data exchange, cyber-defense, and the NATO Response Force. ¶10. (C/NF) The Secretary expressed her appreciation for Ukraine's contributions to NATO operations. Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer noted that Ukraine was unique among partners in that it contributes to all NATO operations. Lithuanian FM Usackas gave special thanks to Ukraine for its contribution in support of the Lithuanian Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan's Ghor province. -------------- Political and Economic Disunity in Kyiv -------------- ¶11. (C/NF) While saying he understood Allied concerns about the political instability and financial situation in Kyiv, Khandogiy argued that the circumstances in Kyiv were not as bad as some might think. He said that the "Ukrainian project" (Note: alluding to the Orange Revolution. End Note.) had not failed, but would just need more time to succeed. He noted that the President, Prime Minister, Speaker of the Rada, leader of the opposition, and head of the central bank had all met on February 27 to discuss the global economic crisis and its impact on Ukraine. He said that a result of that meeting was a joint letter to the International Monetary Fund, as well as a letter from Ukrainian President Yushchenko to the World Bank. ¶12. (C/NF) Secretary Clinton, however, expressed her deep concern about the lack of political cohesion in Kyiv. She said it seemed "impossible" to think that Ukraine could meet all of its challenges without that cohesion. She said that this time of financial crisis required steady, courageous political leadership. She urged Ukraine's leaders to work together. Usackas agreed, saying Lithuania's own experience was that "the journey to NATO starts at home" and this was a lesson that Kyiv should take onboard. -------------- The Gas Crisis -------------- ¶13. (C/NF) While arguing that the gas deal signed with Russia was not perfect, Khandogiy assured Allies that it would implement the agreement. Bulgarian FM Kalfin said he was pleased to hear this, noting the consequences of the recent Ukraine-Russia gas dispute on Bulgaria. CLINTON