Cablegate: Ukraine: Mfa Statement On Russian Cfe Treaty Suspension

VZCZCXRO1786
PP RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHYG
DE RUEHKV #2794 3121419
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 081419Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY KYIV
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4278
INFO RUCNCFE/CONVENTIONAL ARMED FORCES IN EUROPE
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS KYIV 002794

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR PM, EUR/UMB AND EUR/RPM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL KCFE OSCE NATO RS UP
SUBJECT: UKRAINE: MFA Statement on Russian CFE Treaty Suspension

REF: A. KYIV 2673

B. KYIV 2185
C. KYIV 1761

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET.

1. (SBU) The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, on November 8, issued a
statement expressing its alarm over the Russian Duma decision to
suspend the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty's provisions.
The strong statement continues the Ukrainian MFA's concern and
engagement over the issue (reftels). We provide our informal
translation of the statement, taken from the MFA website, below.

2. (U) Begin statement.

Ukraine is alarmed by the decision of Russia to suspend CFE Treaty

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is alarmed by the actions
of Russia related to fulfillment of obligations stipulated by the
CFE Treaty.

Ukraine's MFA is sure that the Russian State Duma's adoption of the
law "On Suspension of the Application of the Conventional Forces in
Europe Treaty by the Russian Federation" (on November 7) will result
in considerable loss of control over the Conventional Forces in
Europe.

"Ukraine, as one of four countries which ratified the Agreement on
application of the Treaty, believes that this step puts the future
of a crucial mechanism of European security in jeopardy and can
breed mistrust in Europe again. Ukraine is particularly alarmed by
the fact that the suspension of the CFE Treaty's application can
lead to an increase in conventional armed forces directly at its
borders," reads the statement.

The MFA stresses the crucial role of the CFE Treaty as one of the
essential pillars of European security and urges all parties to
continue talks aimed at unblocking enforcement of the Agreement on
Adaptation of the CFE Treaty.

End statement.

Taylor

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