PRIORITIES FOR U.S.-UKRAINE COOPERATION (ROAD MAP)
USUBC, Washington, D.C., April 1, 2008 Document

The government of Ukraine and the government of the United States
signed a new 'Road Map' document entitled, "Priorities for U.S.-Ukraine
Cooperation" on April 1, 2008. A copy of the document follows. 
USUBC was very surprised to find that the serious matter of resolving
the major problem that has caused the economic and business
development programs of the U.S. governments' Overseas Private
Investment Corporation (OPIC) to be closed for Ukraine for several
years was not even mentioned as a priority for the U.S. and Ukraine.

PRIORITIES FOR U.S.-UKRAINE COOPERATION
(ROAD MAP), April 1, 2008

STATEMENT OF PRIORITIES:
Government of Ukraine, Government of the United States of America
Signed for the United States of America:
Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary of State
Signed for Ukraine:
Volodymyr Khandogiy, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Signed at Washington, DC and Kyiv, Tuesday, April 1, 2008

As important friends and strategic partners, the United States and Ukraine
cooperate closely across a broad spectrum of mutual concerns.

This cooperation between our two democracies is based on shared values
and shared interests including expanding economic freedom and democracy;
protecting security; strengthening the rule of law; supporting innovation
and technological advances; and promoting public health. We intend to
deepen this partnership to the benefit of both nations.

This statement of priorities constitutes a political arrangement reflecting
the participants' intentions with regard to the matters it addresses. This
list of priorities is not exhaustive.

Deepening Ukraine's integration in European, Euro-Atlantic and
global institutions

Ukraine will pursue enhanced cooperation with the North Atlantic Alliance
and undertake a concerted NATO information campaign.

The United States will continue to support Ukraine's NATO membership
aspirations.

Ukraine will continue to provide strong support for international
peacekeeping operations, particularly assistance for UNAMID operations
in Darfur.

Strengthening the rule of law in Ukraine, promoting reform of the
legal system, law enforcement and security structures, as well as
accelerating efforts to combat corruption and trafficking in persons

Ukraine will pursue judicial reform legislation and implement the
anti-corruption reforms supported by the MCC Threshold Program; the
United States will offer other assistance programs that promote the rule
of law.

Ukraine will consider measures to ensure that punishments resulting from
prosecution of convicted traffickers are sufficiently stringent to deter
human trafficking and document fraud.

The United States will provide Ukraine with technical assistance and
support in organizing trainings for Ukrainian experts and judges in
combating human trafficking and strengthening witness protection.

Ukraine will undertake additional steps to improve victims' protection
and assistance programs.

Improving Ukraine's investment climate and promoting closer
economic and commercial cooperation

Ukraine will pursue expedited Rada ratification of the WTO accession
protocol. The United States and Ukraine look forward to implementing our
bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, including holding
annual consultations as mandated by the agreement.

To facilitate increased trade and investment, Ukraine will implement
streamlined registration, licensing, and customs procedures, clarify
property rights, and improve tax administration.  Ukraine and the United
States will work together to resolve outstanding business issues.

Building Ukrainian energy security, energy efficiency, diversification
of sources and transparency

Ukraine and the United States agree to intensify their dialogue on energy
issues, including through a Bilateral Energy Security Working Group. We
will also explore the creation of a trilateral dialogue on energy involving
Ukraine, the United States and the European Union.

Ukraine will complete work on a contract for alternate nuclear fuel supply
and begin construction of a central spent nuclear fuel storage facility.

The United States, along with other donors, will provide assistance through
a joint task force with the Government of Ukraine on modernization of
municipal heating systems to enhance energy efficiency and reduce gas
import dependence.

Enhancing efforts to promote nonproliferation, arms control and
disarmament goals

Ukraine and the United States will work together to build capacity within
the framework of the G8 Global Partnership and the Global Initiative to
Combat Nuclear Terrorism.

Ukraine and the United States will continue Biological Threat Reduction
Cooperation by enhancing bio-security and improving disease-surveillance
systems.

Ukraine and the United States will cooperate to successfully complete the
destruction of excess weapons and munitions in accordance with the
NATO/PfP Trust Fund project.

The United States and Ukraine will continue activities in the area of
environmentally responsible storage and elimination of SS-24 solid rocket
motors in a technically and financially sound manner.  The U.S. share of
the costs is set forth in Secretary of Defense Gates' letter to Deputy
Prime Minister Kliuyev, dated April 3, 2007.

Both countries intend to cooperate to consolidate and subsequently
downblend all highly enriched uranium in Ukraine for domestic use.

Continuing Ukraine's defense and military transformation

Ukraine will conduct a Strategic Defense Review with U.S. assistance.

The United States will assist and advise Ukraine in purchasing and
fielding/deploying communications equipment for Ukrainian defense
forces.

Ukraine will pursue necessary legislative and regulatory reforms to
transform human resource management and training of the military with
the projected goal of more effective cooperation with NATO forces.
The United States will provide technical assistance for this endeavor.

Exploring new areas for cooperation in high-technology,
space and missile defense

Ukraine and the United States will explore avenues for possible technical
cooperation in ballistic missile defense.

Ukraine and the United States will implement the Framework Agreement for
Space Cooperation.

Ukraine and the United States will renew discussions aimed at completing a
Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation Agreement.

Continuing to work together toward resolution of the Transnistria
and other regional conflicts and to encourage the promotion of
democracy in Belarus

Ukraine and the United States renew their commitment to negotiating a
resolution to the Transnistria conflict through the 5+2 talks in compliance
with the implementation of the plan "To the Resolution through
Democracy" developed on the basis of the initiative of the President of
Ukraine.

We agree to support vigorously the EU Border Assistance Mission and the
unified customs regime at the Ukraine-Moldova border.

Ukraine and the United States are united in the opinion that Kosovo's
declaration of independence does not serve as a precedent.

Ukraine and the United States will work toward the peaceful resolution of
protracted conflicts in the region within the framework of the
international organizations, in particular the UN and the OSCE.

Developing regional organizations

The leadership role of Ukraine in GUAM will be further strengthened,
including enhancing its role as host of the GUAM Secretariat in Kyiv.

Enhancing bilateral cooperation through exchanges and visits

Ukraine and the United States agree to pursue a vigorous program of
high-level visits between our two capitals. Both sides will use such visits
to enhance and energize work on key priorities.

Ukraine and the United States agree to promote people-to-people contacts
and increase focus on cultural, educational and professional exchange
programs.

Ukraine and the United States will further their dialogue through bilateral
cooperation mechanisms, especially the Bilateral Coordination Group and
the Bilateral Working Group on Nonproliferation and Export Control.

Remembering the 1932-33 Holodomor (Great Famine) in
Ukraine

Ukraine and the United States will closely cooperate to promote remembrance
and increase public awareness of the 1932-33 man-made Great Famine
(Holodomor) in Ukraine including within the framework of the international
organizations.

Combating HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis

Ukraine and the United States will further their cooperation in order to
fight HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis. Ukraine will continue scaling up its
efforts in combating HIV/AIDS, including prevention, detection and
treatment, to meet Global Fund commitments.

Ukraine will strengthen its Country Coordination Mechanism on
combating AIDS, and undertake efforts to introduce best practices for
detecting, preventing and treating TB and HIV.

Signed at Washington, DC and Kyiv of April 1, 2008

For the United States of America:
Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary of State

For Ukraine:
Volodymyr Khandogiy, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

 

NOTE: Again, USUBC was very surprised and disappointed to find
that the serious matter of resolving the major problem that has caused
the economic and business development programs of the U.S.
governments' Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) to be 
closed for Ukraine for several years was not even mentioned as a priority
for the U.S. and Ukraine. USUBC feels strongly that resolving the OPIC
issue should have been listed as one of the very top priorities for the
two countries.  This problem has existed since 1999.