(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
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