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WikiLeaks: Vershbow defends Ukrainian sovereignty in meeting with Russians

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Nov. 29, 2010, 6:46 p.m. | Ukraine — by Staff reports
U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Alexander Vershbow last year raised concerns with senior Russian officials over Moscow’s respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and borders. According to an embassy cable, published by whistleblower website Wikileaks on Nov. 29, Vershbow criticized as “counter-productive” Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s vitriolic open letter of August 2009, which attacked then-Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yushchenko’s “anti-Russian” policies.

The cable was sent on Oct. 6, 2009, following meetings between Vershbow and a number of senior Russian officials. According to the communication “Vershbow emphasized that Russia's efforts to assert a regional sphere of influence posed a threat to the reset in bilateral relations, and reiterated the U.S. commitment to the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Georgia, Ukraine and other partners in the region.” He added that the U.S. didn’t see Russian-Ukrainian relations as a “zero-sum game.”

The cable continues that Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin responded that “Ukraine is Russia's closest neighbor, and is a ‘key partner’ in international activities. Russia is not trying to influence Ukraine, but wants a stable Ukraine and a secure neighborhood. He also said that Russia cannot ignore attempts to depict it as a major threat to Ukraine.”

Read the cable here.
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Anonymous Nov. 29, 2010, 7:52 p.m.    

More proof for Ukrainians that the USA is an ally.

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Anonymous Nov. 29, 2010, 9:33 p.m.    

usa is a coward and loser

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Anonymous Nov. 30, 2010, 2:17 a.m.    

russia - schemeing, murderous, no-hoper of a nation whom cannot get on with others due to inferiorty complex, and have to falsify history, steal other nation's culture to look credible in the eyes of the west - now that is funny (sic).

WHO IS THE REAL LOSER?

So sad because all nations and peoples (and espcially russian people) could benefit if everybody worked together instead of the moscal/peasant attitude putin and the kremlin instill to everything. There is no place in the world for a master/slave relationships - Remember we are living in the 21st Century.

Eastern Europe and in particular former (and thankfully long gone) soviet countries are so f@cked up due to legacy of stupid russian leaders, it's beyond belief that they are letting putin and krelim do it all over again. putin and kremlim should take a step back and concentrate on their own russian affairs instead of constantly interferring in other nathion's business. New democratic countries should be left develop in the manner all free countries have the right too.

You see all problems Ukraine are having are down to 2 things:

1) So that putin can deliver his Gaz to europe - He is essentially he is after the Gaz tansportation system, and a place to keep his rusting boats. He goes to any length, including destroying nations culture and freedoms to get his own way.

2) The second reason is due to Ukraine shooting itself in its own foot - They voted in the imbecile Profffeeessor yanukonvikt who will sell anything and everthing to get into power and line his own pockets. Why else would a 'Ukrainian' sell out Ukraine to the krelim.

Remember they potray/sell Ukraine as a bother nation of russia - Centuries of History has shown that moscal brotherly love means death, misery and suffering to everyone. Therefore who in the right might would want to get involved unless there is a very high return.

It really is time to cut out the cancer - yanukonvikt and mafia must goes before Ukraine completly self implodes.

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Anonymous Nov. 30, 2010, 1:43 a.m.    

Which happens to be the dominant world power by far.

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Anonymous Nov. 30, 2010, 3:45 p.m.    

That is a hilarious comment! Cowards and losers. I find it interesting that for over 200 years people from around the world have wanted to immigrate to the USA. Not to Ukraine, Russia, China, Middle East or South America. Why? Because they are shit holes for countries with repressive governments. The US have been a beacon of hope for a better life for millions while the rest of you piss and moan about your problems and complain the US does nothing to help you. Help yourselves first, and then maybe the US will help you. The American tax payers spend billions of dollars a year sending aid to your pathetic countries only to have you bitch that we don’t do enough. I personally send thousands of dollars a year to relatives in Ukraine so they may live a little better than the average person. You bunch had better wake up and figure out who your REAL friends are and who your REAL enemies are, because one day you may need that friends help, but the friend says, F off, I have had enough of you.

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Anonymous Nov. 29, 2010, 8:11 p.m.    

too little too late.with the spineless poodle yanuconvict the moskaLI are laughing all the way to Crimea

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Anonymous Nov. 29, 2010, 8:30 p.m.    

This American expression of concern occurred Oct 2009. Putin seized control of Ukraine with Yanukonvikt as figurehead in February 2010. Would further American expressions of concern be an adequate response post seizure? How many have there been? And what difference have they made?

Would Ukraine have fared worse with an alliance with China? Has China killed as many innocent civilians worldwide in recent years as the US has? Has China suppressed freedom of the press in as man countries worldwide as the US has? Was it China which put Kuchma in power in Ukraine, of the US?

Will friends like the US, who needs enemies?

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Anonymous Nov. 29, 2010, 9:49 p.m.    

What a sour hohol loser - he denies the obvious fact the the ONLY democratically elected President in the Ukraine history is Yanukovych - he did not needed CIA help to subvert the democratic election process in Ukraine in order to be elected what the US shill Yushchenko did, heh, heh, heh :D

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Anonymous Nov. 30, 2010, 1:46 a.m.    

He needed the &quot;US shill&quot; Yuschenko's help, because even after the last 5 years he couldn't win an outright majority of Ukrainian's votes... heh, heh, heh :P

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Anonymous Nov. 29, 2010, 8:56 p.m.    

Your comment is a real stretch. What is it that you're advocating?

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Anonymous Nov. 29, 2010, 9:54 p.m.    

I thought I was being clear, but I will sum up nevertheless:

The US has sold Ukraine down the river. It wants Ukraine to resemble the many dictatorships that it supports, like Egypt for example. Ukraine would have done better to ally itself with China because China would not have sold Ukraine to Russia.

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Anonymous Nov. 30, 2010, 3:20 p.m.    

You are way out in left field!

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Anonymous Nov. 30, 2010, 1:49 a.m.    

Uh-huh,... kindly name one &quot;ally&quot; of China that isn't a dictatorship

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Anonymous Nov. 30, 2010, 3:19 p.m.    

China doesn't need to go outside it's borders to kill people. It does quite a fine job killing people at home.

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Anonymous Nov. 29, 2010, 9:40 p.m.    

251,000 cables were leaked but still unanswered are all cables legitimate some could be doctored to shift policy.Does anyone think wikileaks is really a rogue operation if so they probably believe in santa claus.From what has been reported in media so far it appears to be a effort to spoil us/russia reset and whip up support for attack on iran.Notice real secrets aren't being leaked like-nuclear codes,troop dispositions instead your getting gossip and pub comments.

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Anonymous Nov. 29, 2010, 9:41 p.m.    

The more oppressive Russia is, the more Ukraine hates Russia and wants to break away. The more that Ukrainian independence portends a hostile nation on Russia's border, the more oppressive Russia becomes in an effort to block independence. The motivation on both sides intensifies. Only two outcomes are possible:

(1) Russia tranquilizes Ukraine the way it tranquilized Chechnya.

(2) Ukraine wins independence from Russia the way America won independence from Britain.

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Anonymous Nov. 29, 2010, 9:43 p.m.    

Mr. Vershbou is WRONG, completely wrong, he is dealing with the criminals in the Ukraine, as level of corruption in this shitpit remains incredible for all these 20 years of so-called &quot;independence&quot; (ha!)Why so much attention is being paid to these &quot;criminal businessmen&quot;, who like to remain in the shades of corrupt practices, not paying taxes? Mr. Vershbou, do not make your hands dirty with all these criminals in the Ukraine, getting rich quick violating the law, being covered up by criminal officials. Just a brief example of how &quot;Ukrainian business&quot; do their business with the total disregard of the law and surrounding people, as we fell the victims of the war between Kiev Internet-providers, as follows: the residents of Kiev highrise at Schusev 34/1 Shevchenkovsky district of Kiev cordially invite the correspondent to write an article on their ordeal, as we are victimized by an internet-provider Lanet-network, with 5 technicians raiding the building on Nov 18, and during the daylinght, when the residents were at work, drilled all 15 levels (!) of the highrise, and installed metal pipes and boxes for cable tv/internet on the corridor walls next to our sleeping rooms, etc. The law states, that the residents are co-owners of common locations in the building, and these internet-provider's attacks by drilling floors for their cables endangers the whole building, as it not only damages the concrete slabs of the floors but also damages acoustics in the building. Next day we chased the technicians, and they were fast to relocate to an adjacent 5-level building at Zhitkova street 3, breaking holes in the floors to install their pipes for the cables as well. Dwellers' protests were retorted, that they have agreed all with the Zhek KP &quot;Syrets&quot;(utility services provider),in Scusev street 10, but Zhek house manager-Olga Ivanovna denied all this as false. Moreover, after residents' protests to the Schevchenkovsky administration, this Olga Ivanovna rashed to the concierge of the highrise at Schusev street 34\1 to instruct the consierge not to be duped again by the technicians from the LANET NEWORK LTD., as in order to obtain an illegal access to the highrise, equipped with the domophone and concierge, the technicials from this provider lied to the concierge, stating that they &quot;agreed all&quot; with the ZHEK, although they did not. Shame on LANET NEWORK LTD., disgraceful ISP-provider! In addition, they literally occupied the roof of the high-rise, installing the anennae and the bunch of cables,placing these literally in the walls of our apartments. All residents complains are blocked by the director of the department for utilities/property management at Shevchenkovsky district administration (KP&quot;Keruyucha direktsia&quot;) Mr. Viktor Kirilovich Shevkovsky, who covers up these illegal deals of dishonest internet-providers. Before this attack on the highrise by the LANET NETWORK LTD., another provider, Volia Broadbend, installed their communication on our roof and cables on 15-13th floors adjacent to the apartments of the residents, all complaints are ignored, as this is a luctrative market, and corrupt officials from Shevchenkovsky district administration, ruled until now by its head Pilipishin, in rude violation of the law, with total resident's disregard, provided illegal permission to install cables on top of the high-rise buildings in the neighbourhood (i.e. Podvioiskogo 9A, Shuseva 34/1, etc.). Officials disregard the law, and allow for the providers to damage the houses by drilling, etc., with total disregard of their functions.Residents of Kiev, beware of criminals, raiding the houses, endangering your safety by drilling the floors and installing illegal telecommunications equipment literally on top of your heads!

Hey, owners the ISP-Provider LANET NEWORK LTD., you seem to think that your criminal bosses from Shevchenkovsky distrction administration in Kiev will cover up your dirty business to demolish the buildings? Finally, Mr. Vershbou, would that be possible in the US, please?

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Anonymous April 30, 2011, 4:42 p.m.    

Fuck yourself, pussy!

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Anonymous Nov. 29, 2010, 9:46 p.m.    

No arrests--not one! And WikiLeaks not shut down either? Could it be that WikiLeaks is being fed CIA disinformation? Oh, of course, many genuine but only mildly damaging documents as well, to give the whole package credibility.

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Anonymous Nov. 29, 2010, 9:54 p.m.    

CIA exposing the US dishonesty, duplicity and hypocrisy for the great laughs of the civilized humanity? LOL :D

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Anonymous Nov. 30, 2010, 1:56 a.m.    

Uh-huh... maybe we should have a look at the FSB archives?.. Bet there's lots of &quot;dishonesty, duplicity and hypocrisy&quot; there.. heh, heh, heh

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Anonymous Nov. 30, 2010, 9:02 p.m.    

Blah, blah, blah. It is deeply embarrassing for the US nazi hohol diaspora to confess what kind of police state exposed for it's dishonesty, duplicity and hypocrisy they polute with their presense. LOL :D

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Anonymous Nov. 30, 2010, 5:54 p.m.    

----- Subject: WikiLeaks re Russian pressure to deny Holodomor was a genocide!

HRH PRINCE ANDREW ON HOLODOMOR 08BISHKEK1095.doc (27KB)

08BISHKEK1095 2008-10-29 12:12 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy Bishkek

VZCZCXRO8787

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DE RUEHEK #1095/01 3031207

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R 291207Z OCT 08 ZDS

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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1474

INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE

RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE

RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2724

RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0265

RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC

RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC

RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC

RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1087

RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3111

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RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE

RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS

RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP

RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL

RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 165

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BISHKEK 001095

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDRESSEE)

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI)

EO 12958 DECL: 10/29/2018

TAGS PREL, ECON, KG

SUBJECT: CANDID DISCUSSION WITH PRINCE ANDREW ON THE KYRGYZ

ECONOMY AND THE “GREAT GAME”

REF: BISHKEK 1059

BISHKEK 00001095 001.4 OF 004

Classified By: Amb. Tatiana Gfoeller, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUBJECT: CANDID DISCUSSION WITH PRINCE ANDREW ON THE KYRGYZ

ECONOMY AND THE “GREAT GAME”

REF: BISHKEK 1059

BISHKEK 00001095 001.4 OF 004

Classified By: Amb. Tatiana Gfoeller, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).

¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On October 28, the Ambassador participated in a two-hour brunch

to brief HRH the Duke of York ahead of his meetings with the Kyrgyz Prime

Minister and other high-level officials. She was the only non-subject of the

United Kingdom or the Commonwealth invited to participate by the British

Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic. Other participants included major British

investors in Kyrgyzstan and the Canadian operator of XXXXXXXX. The discussion

covered the investment climate for Western firms in the Kyrgyz Republic, the

problem of corruption, the revival of the “Great Game,” Russian and Chinese

influence in the country, and the Prince’s personal views on promoting British

economic interests. Astonishingly candid, the discussion at times verged on the

rude (from the British side). END SUMMARY.

[…]

“YOU HAVE TO CURE YOURSELF OF ANOREXIA”

---------------------------------------

¶7. (C) With a mock groan, the Duke of York then exclaimed: “My God, what am I

supposed to tell these people?!” More seriously, he invited his guests to

suggest ways Kyrgyzstan’s economic prospects and attractiveness could be

improved. Everyone agreed that in his talks with the Prime Minister and others,

he should emphasize the rule of law, and long-term stability.

¶8. (C) Agreeing with the Ambassador’s point about rapid government turnover,

they urged him to impress upon his hosts the importance of predictability and

the sanctity of contracts in order to attract more Western investment. At the

same time, they pointed out that none of this was necessary to attract Russian,

Kazakh, or Chinese investments. It appeared to them that the Kyrgyz were

satisfied with their level and on the verge of “not bothering” with making the

necessary improvements to attract Western investments. Returning to what is

obviously a favorite theme, Prince Andrew cracked: “They won’t need to make any

changes to attract the French either!” Again turning thoughtful, the Prince

mused that outsiders could do little to change the culture of corruption here.

“They themselves have to have a change of heart. Just like you have to cure

yourself of anorexia. No one else can do it for you.”

PLAYING THE GREAT GAME (BY EXTENSION THE AMERICANS TOO)

--------------------------------------------- ----------

¶9. (C) Addressing the Ambassador directly, Prince Andrew then turned to

regional politics. He stated baldly that “the United Kingdom, Western Europe

(and by extension you Americans too”) were now back in the thick of playing the

Great Game. More animated than ever, he stated cockily: “And this time we aim to

win!” Without contradicting him, the Ambassador gently reminded him that the

United States does not see its presence in the region as a continuation of the

Great Game. We support Kyrgyzstan’s independence and sovereignty but also

welcome good relations between it and all of its neighbors, including Russia.

¶10. (C) The Prince pounced at the sound of that name. He told the Ambassador

that he was a frequent visitor to Central Asia and the Caucasus and had noticed

a marked increase in Russian pressure and concomitant anxiety among the locals

post-August events in Georgia. He stated the following story related to him

recently by Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev. Aliyev had received a letter from

President Medvedev telling him that if Azerbaijan supported the designation of

the Bolshevik artificial famine in Ukraine as “genocide” at the United Nations,

“then you can forget about seeing Nagorno-Karabakh ever again.” Prince Andrew

added that every single other regional President had told him of receiving

similar “directive” letters from Medvedev except for Bakiyev. He asked the

Ambassador if Bakiyev had received something similar as well. The Ambassador

answered that she was not aware of any such letter.

¶11. (C) The Duke then stated that he was very worried about Russia’s resurgence

in the region. As an example, he cited the recent Central Asian energy and

water-sharing deal (septel), which he claimed to know had been “engineered by

Russia, who finally pounded her fist on the table and everyone fell into line.”

(NOTE: Interestingly, the Turkish Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic recently

described her analysis of the deal to the Ambassador in strikingly similar

language. END NOTE.)¶12. (C) Showing that he is an equal-opportunity Great Game

player, HRH then turned to the topic of China. He recounted that when he had

recently asked the President of Tajikistan what he thought of growing Chinese

influence in Central Asia, the President had responded “with language I won’t

use in front of ladies.” His interlocutors told the Prince that while Russians

are generally viewed sympathetically throughout the region, the Chinese are not.

He nodded, terming Chinese economic and possibly other expansion in the region

“probably inevitable, but a menace.”

&amp;#65279;

Subject: WikiLeaks re Russian pressure to deny Holodomor was a genocide!

The attached WikiLeaks exerpt is from a candid discussion between the US

Ambassador to Kyrgystan and HRH Prince Andrew and others on Oct 28 2008 in

Bishkek. It was revealed that Medvedev was applying great political pressure to

ensure that the Holodomor was not recognized as a Genocide by the UN.

The frantic panic on the part of Medvedev serves to underscore the wisdom of

Pres. Yushchenko's effort in this regard.

Heroyam Slava!

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Anonymous Nov. 30, 2010, 8:58 p.m.    

The hohol doaspora holed in yankistan and canukistan again crapped their pants all over the place, considering the fact that it was the Europe Assembly that gives a mid finger to the nazi hohol diaspora &quot;holodomor&quot; lies, heh, heh, heh :D

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