DE RUCNAI #0025/01 0780248
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 190248Z MAR 09
FM USDEL SECRETARY//EUROPE MIDEAST//
TO RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHKV/AMEBASSY KYIV IMMEDIATE
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMMEDIATE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE

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