UKRAINE: DELIVERY OF DEMARCHE RE ASSISTANCE TO NIGERIAN SPACE LAUNCH PROGRAM

SECRET S E C R E T KYIV 001973 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/MTR, EUR/PRA AND EUR/UMB E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2017 TAGS: ETTC, PARM, PREL, MTCRE, MNUC, UP, NI SUBJECT: UKRAINE: DELIVERY OF DEMARCHE RE ASSISTANCE TO NIGERIAN SPACE LAUNCH PROGRAM REF: A. STATE 109303 B. STATE 106058 Classified By: Political Counselor Kent Logsdon for reasons 1.4(b,c,d). 1. (S) As requested, on August 9, 2007, PolCouns delivered talking points contained ref A to Vasyl Pokotilov, Acting Director of the Foreign Ministry's Department for Arms Control and Military-Technical Cooperation, and asked for full details on the cooperation between the Ukrainian National Space Agency (NSAU) and Nigeria's National Space Research and Design Agency (NSRDA), stressing our concern that this cooperation not contribute to the creation of an MTCR Category I Program in Nigeria. Pokotilov acknowledged the cooperation between NSAU and NSRDA, but said that this issue was being handled directly by NSAU and the MFA's Third Territorial Department (dealing with Africa). Pokotilov said that he understood our concerns and promised to coordinate a full explanation in response to our inquiry. 2. (S) As expected, Pokotilov asked about the U.S. investigation of the information provided by Ukraine regarding U.S. firms that may have contracted to export propellant mixing equipment to an Indian firm (Ref B). As instructed, Polcouns responded that the U.S. took Ukraine's concerns seriously and advised Pokotilov that we would share the results of the U.S. investigation when it was completed. 3. (U) Visit Embassy Kyiv's classified website: www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/kiev. Pettit