Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287
Articles
Brazil
Sri Lanka
United Kingdom
Sweden
00. Editorial
United States
Latin America
Egypt
Jordan
Yemen
Thailand
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
2011/05/20
2011/05/21
2011/05/22
2011/05/23
2011/05/24
2011/05/25
2011/05/26
2011/05/27
2011/05/28
2011/05/29
2011/05/30
2011/05/31
2011/06/01
2011/06/02
2011/06/03
2011/06/04
2011/06/05
2011/06/06
2011/06/07
2011/06/08
2011/06/09
2011/06/10
2011/06/11
2011/06/12
2011/06/13
2011/06/14
2011/06/15
2011/06/16
2011/06/17
2011/06/18
2011/06/19
2011/06/20
2011/06/21
2011/06/22
2011/06/23
2011/06/24
2011/06/25
2011/06/26
2011/06/27
2011/06/28
2011/06/29
2011/06/30
2011/07/01
2011/07/02
2011/07/04
2011/07/05
2011/07/06
2011/07/07
2011/07/08
2011/07/10
2011/07/11
2011/07/12
2011/07/13
2011/07/14
2011/07/15
2011/07/16
2011/07/17
2011/07/18
2011/07/19
2011/07/20
2011/07/21
2011/07/22
2011/07/23
2011/07/25
2011/07/27
2011/07/28
2011/07/29
2011/07/31
2011/08/01
2011/08/02
2011/08/03
2011/08/05
2011/08/06
2011/08/07
2011/08/08
2011/08/10
2011/08/11
2011/08/12
2011/08/13
2011/08/15
2011/08/16
2011/08/17
2011/08/19
2011/08/21
2011/08/22
2011/08/23
2011/08/24
2011/08/25
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Antananarivo
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Alexandria
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embasy Bonn
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Brazzaville
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangui
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Belfast
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Cotonou
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chiang Mai
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Chengdu
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
DIR FSINFATC
Consulate Dusseldorf
Consulate Durban
Consulate Dubai
Consulate Dhahran
Embassy Guatemala
Embassy Grenada
Embassy Georgetown
Embassy Gaborone
Consulate Guayaquil
Consulate Guangzhou
Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Hong Kong
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kolonia
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Krakow
Consulate Kolkata
Consulate Karachi
Consulate Kaduna
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Lusaka
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Lome
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy Libreville
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Leipzig
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Mission Geneva
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Mogadishu
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maseru
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Merida
Consulate Melbourne
Consulate Matamoros
Consulate Marseille
Embassy Nouakchott
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Nuevo Laredo
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Consulate Nagoya
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Praia
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Moresby
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Podgorica
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Ponta Delgada
Consulate Peshawar
REO Mosul
REO Kirkuk
REO Hillah
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Surabaya
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy Tirana
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York
USMISSION USTR GENEVA
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Mission CD Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
US Delegation FEST TWO
UNVIE
UN Rome
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vientiane
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AF
ADANA
ASEC
AFIN
AMGT
AE
AORC
AID
AR
AO
AU
ASEAN
AGOA
AFGHANISTAN
AFFAIRS
AMED
APER
ASECARP
APEC
AEMR
AS
AA
ANET
AFLU
ABLD
AL
ASUP
AJ
APECO
AMER
ABUD
AODE
AM
AFSN
AESC
AND
AG
ALOW
AROC
AVIANFLU
ATRN
ACOA
AEGR
AMGMT
AADP
AFSI
ACABQ
APRM
AZ
AIDS
ASE
AGAO
ADCO
ABDALLAH
ARF
AIDAC
ACOTA
ASCH
AC
ASEG
AGR
ACS
AMCHAMS
AN
AMIA
ASIG
ADPM
ADB
ANARCHISTS
ALOWAR
ARM
AUC
AINF
AINT
AORG
AY
AVIAN
AMEDCASCKFLO
AK
ARSO
ARABBL
ASO
ANTITERRORISM
ARABL
AOWC
AGRICULTURE
ALJAZEERA
AMTC
AFINM
AOCR
ABER
ARR
AFPK
ASSEMBLY
ASSK
AZE
AORCYM
AINR
AGMT
AEC
ACKM
APRC
AIN
ASCC
AFPREL
ASED
APERTH
ASFC
ASECTH
AFSA
AOMS
AORCO
ANTXON
ARC
AFAF
ADIP
AIAG
AFARI
AEMED
AORL
AX
ASECAF
AOPC
ASECAFIN
AFZAL
APCS
AMB
AGUIRRE
AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL
AIT
ARCH
AMEX
ALI
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AORCD
AVIATION
ARAS
AINFCY
ACBAQ
AOPR
AREP
ALEXANDER
ATRD
AEIR
AOIC
ABLDG
ASEX
AFR
ASCE
ATRA
ASEK
AER
ALOUNI
AMCT
AVERY
APR
AMAT
AEMRS
ASPA
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ALL
AECL
ACAO
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORD
AFL
AME
ADM
ASECPHUM
AGIT
ABT
ASECVE
AGUILAR
AT
ABMC
ALZUGUREN
ANGEL
ASR
ANTONIO
BMGT
BEXP
BM
BG
BL
BA
BR
BTA
BO
BY
BBSR
BLUE
BK
BF
BTIO
BELLVIEW
BE
BU
BN
BH
BD
BC
BTC
BILAT
BT
BX
BRUSSELS
BP
BB
BRPA
BUSH
BURMA
BMENA
BESP
BIT
BBG
BGD
BMEAID
BAGHDAD
BEN
BIO
BMOT
BWC
BLUNT
BURNS
BUT
BGMT
BAIO
BCW
BOEHNER
BFIF
BOL
BASHAR
BIMSTEC
BOU
BIDEN
BZ
BFIN
BTRA
BI
BHUM
BOIKO
BERARDUCCI
BOUCHAIB
BORDER
BEXPC
BTIU
BTT
BIOS
BEXB
BGPGOV
BOND
BLR
CE
CG
CH
CVR
CASC
CU
CI
CD
CO
CDG
CB
CJAN
CPAS
COM
CVIS
CMGT
CT
CENTCOM
CNARC
CTERR
COUNTER
CHIEF
CDC
CTR
CBW
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CY
CA
CM
CS
CWC
CN
CITES
CF
CWG
CIVS
CFIS
CASCC
CROATIA
CONS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CASA
COE
CJ
CHR
CODEL
CR
CBC
CACS
CHERTOFF
CAS
CONTROL
CONDITIONS
CONDOLEEZZA
CITEL
CV
CLINTON
CHG
CZ
CON
CTBT
CEN
CRIMES
COMMERCE
CLOK
CRISTINA
CFED
CARC
CND
CTM
CARICOM
COUNTRYCLEARANCE
CBTH
CHINA
CSW
CICTE
CJUS
CYPRUS
CW
CAMBODIA
CENSUS
CIDA
CRIME
CBG
CBE
CMGMT
CAIO
CEC
CARSON
CPCTC
CEDAW
COMESA
CVIA
CWCM
CEA
COSI
CAPC
CGEN
COPUOS
CGOPRC
COETRD
CKGR
CFE
CQ
CITT
CIC
CARIB
CVIC
CLO
CAFTA
CVISU
CHRISTOPHER
CACM
CIAT
CDB
CIS
CUL
CHAO
CNC
CL
CSEP
COMMAND
CENTER
COL
CAN
CAJC
CUIS
CONSULAR
CLMT
CIA
CBSA
CEUDA
CAC
CROS
CIO
CPUOS
CKOR
CVPR
CONG
CONTROLS
CEPTER
CVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGKIRF
CDCE
DPOL
DEMARCHE
DHS
DR
DA
DISENGAGEMENT
DEMOCRATIC
DEFENSE
DJ
DY
DARFUR
DHRF
DEA
DTRO
DPRK
DO
DARFR
DOC
DRL
DK
DOJ
DTRA
DOMESTIC
DAC
DOD
DEAX
DIEZ
DEOC
DELTAVIOLENCE
DCOM
DMINE
DRC
DCG
DPKO
DOMESTICPOLITICS
DE
DB
DOT
DEPT
DOE
DHLAKAMA
DHSX
DS
DKEM
DAO
DCM
DANIEL
DEM
DAVID
DCRM
ETRD
EAGR
ETTC
EAID
ECON
EFIN
ECIN
EINV
ELAB
EAIR
ENRG
EPET
EWWT
ECPS
EIND
EMIN
ELTN
EC
ETMIN
EUC
EZ
ET
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EU
EUN
EG
EINT
ER
ECONOMICS
ES
EMS
ENIV
EEB
EN
ECE
ECOSOC
EK
ENVIRONMENT
EFIS
EI
EWT
ENGRD
ECPSN
EXIM
EIAD
ERIN
ECPC
EDEV
ENGY
ECTRD
EPA
ESTH
ECCT
EINVECON
ENGR
ERTD
EUR
EAP
EWWC
ELTD
EL
EXIMOPIC
EXTERNAL
ETRDEC
ESCAP
ECO
EGAD
ELNT
ECONOMIC
ENV
ETRN
EIAR
EUMEM
ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID
EREL
ECOM
ECONETRDEAGRJA
ETCC
ETRG
ECONOMY
EMED
ETR
ENERG
EITC
EFINOECD
EURM
EENG
ERA
EXPORT
ENRD
ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC
EGEN
EBRD
EVIN
ETRAD
ECOWAS
EFTA
ECONETRDBESPAR
EGOVSY
EPIN
EID
ECONENRG
EDRC
ESENV
ETT
EB
ENER
ELTNSNAR
ECHEVARRIA
ETRC
EPIT
EDUC
ESA
EFI
ENRGY
ESCI
EE
EAIDXMXAXBXFFR
EETC
ECIP
EIAID
EIVN
EBEXP
ESTN
EING
EGOV
ETRA
EPETEIND
ELAN
ETRDGK
EAIDRW
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
EPEC
ENVI
ELN
EAG
EPCS
EPRT
EPTED
ETRB
EUM
EAIDS
EFIC
EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM
EAIDAR
ESF
EIDN
ELAM
EDU
EV
EAIDAF
ECN
EDA
EXBS
EINTECPS
ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ
EPREL
EAC
EINVEFIN
ETA
EAGER
EINDIR
ECA
ECLAC
ELAP
EITI
EUCOM
ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID
EARG
ELDIN
EINVKSCA
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EFINTS
ECCP
ETC
EAIRASECCASCID
EINN
ETRP
EAIDNI
EFQ
ECOQKPKO
EGPHUM
EBUD
ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ
ENERGY
ELB
EINDETRD
EMI
ECONEFIN
EIB
EURN
ETRDEINVTINTCS
EIN
EFIM
ETIO
ELAINE
EMN
EATO
EWTR
EIPR
EINVETC
ETTD
ETDR
EIQ
ECONCS
EPPD
ENRGIZ
EISL
ESPINOSA
ELEC
EAIG
ESLCO
EUREM
ENTG
ERD
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ECINECONCS
ETRO
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECUN
EFND
EPECO
EAIRECONRP
ERGR
ETRDPGOV
ECPN
ENRGMO
EPWR
EET
EAIS
EAGRE
EDUARDO
EAGRRP
EAIDPHUMPRELUG
EICN
ECONQH
EVN
EGHG
ELBR
EINF
EAIDHO
EENV
ETEX
ERNG
ED
FR
FREEDOM
FINREF
FJ
FI
FRELIMO
FOREIGN
FAA
FETHI
FAS
FTAA
FRB
FAO
FCS
FINANCE
FWS
FTA
FEMA
FDA
FLU
FRANCISCO
FBI
FORCE
FO
FARC
FK
FT
FCSC
FAC
FM
FMGT
FINV
FCSCEG
FARM
FERNANDO
FINR
FIN
FINE
FIR
FDIC
FOR
FOI
FCUL
FKLU
FMLN
FISO
FIXED
GM
GMUS
GG
GR
GE
GAZA
GT
GH
GZ
GJ
GLOBAL
GV
GABY
GOI
GA
GCC
GB
GY
GATT
GC
GUAM
GEORGE
GTIP
GOV
GOMEZ
GUTIERREZ
GL
GKGIC
GF
GU
GWI
GARCIA
GTMO
GN
GANGS
GIPNC
GAERC
GREGG
GUILLERMO
GASPAR
GERARD
GI
HK
HR
HUMANR
HUMAN
HO
HA
HUMANRIGHTS
HU
HHS
HIV
HUM
HRKAWC
HILLEN
HILLARY
HDP
HUMRIT
HSTC
HUMANITARIAN
HCOPIL
HADLEY
HURI
HL
HRETRD
HOURANI
HG
HARRIET
HESHAM
HI
HNCHR
HARRY
HRECON
HRC
HOSTAGES
HEBRON
HUMOR
HSWG
HYMPSK
HECTOR
HN
HYDE
HUD
HRPGOV
HIGHLIGHTS
ID
ILC
IS
IZ
ICAO
IMO
ITU
IR
IAEA
ICRC
IPROP
IT
IBRD
ISRAELI
IRAQI
ISSUES
ITRA
IV
IO
IGAD
IRAQ
IN
IMF
ICTR
ISCON
IADB
IDB
IEA
INR
IWC
ICCAT
ILO
INMARSAT
IOM
ICJ
IQ
ISPA
ITRD
IPR
INTELSAT
ISN
IAHRC
INTERNAL
IFAD
IICA
IHO
IRAN
IL
IRCE
IC
INTELLECTUAL
IRM
IE
ICTY
IDLI
IFO
ISCA
INF
INL
ISRAEL
INV
IBB
INFLUENZA
ISPL
ITER
ITIA
INRA
ISAF
IACHR
INTERPOL
IFR
IRS
INRB
IEF
ISAAC
ICC
INDO
IIP
IATTC
INAUGURATION
IND
INS
IZPREL
IACI
IEFIN
INNP
ILAB
IA
IMTS
ITALY
ITALIAN
IFIN
IRAJ
IX
ICG
IF
ITPHUM
ITA
IP
IACW
IK
IUCN
IZEAID
IRPE
IDA
ISLAMISTS
ITF
INRO
IBET
IDP
IRC
ISO
ICES
IRMO
ITPGOV
IQNV
IMSO
IRDB
IMET
INCB
IFRC
JA
JO
JP
JM
JCIC
JOHN
JE
JEFFERY
JS
JUS
JN
JOHNNIE
JAMES
JKUS
JOSEPH
JML
JAWAD
JSRP
JIMENEZ
JOSE
JKJUS
JK
JAPAN
KMDR
KPAO
KPKO
KJUS
KCRM
KGHG
KFRD
KWMN
KDEM
KTFN
KHIV
KGIC
KIDE
KSCA
KNNP
KHUM
KIPR
KSUM
KISL
KIRF
KCOR
KRCM
KPAL
KWBG
KN
KS
KOMC
KSEP
KFLU
KPWR
KTIA
KSEO
KMPI
KHLS
KICC
KSTH
KMCA
KVPR
KPRM
KE
KU
KZ
KFLO
KSAF
KTIP
KTEX
KBCT
KOCI
KOLY
KOR
KAWC
KACT
KUNR
KTDB
KSTC
KLIG
KSKN
KNN
KCFE
KCIP
KGHA
KHDP
KPOW
KUNC
KDRL
KV
KPREL
KCRS
KPOL
KRVC
KRIM
KGIT
KWIR
KT
KIRC
KOMO
KRFD
KUWAIT
KG
KFIN
KSCI
KTFIN
KFTN
KGOV
KPRV
KSAC
KGIV
KCRIM
KPIR
KSOC
KBIO
KW
KGLB
KMWN
KPO
KFSC
KSEAO
KSTCPL
KSI
KPRP
KREC
KFPC
KUNH
KCSA
KMRS
KNDP
KR
KICCPUR
KPPAO
KCSY
KTBT
KCIS
KNEP
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KNNB
KGCC
KINR
KPOP
KMFO
KENV
KNAR
KVIR
KDRG
KDMR
KFCE
KNAO
KDEN
KGCN
KICA
KIMMITT
KMCC
KLFU
KMSG
KSEC
KUM
KCUL
KMNP
KSMT
KCOM
KOMCSG
KSPR
KPMI
KRAD
KIND
KCRP
KAUST
KWAWC
KTER
KCHG
KRDP
KPAS
KITA
KTSC
KPAOPREL
KWGB
KIRP
KJUST
KMIG
KLAB
KTFR
KSEI
KSTT
KAPO
KSTS
KLSO
KWNN
KPOA
KHSA
KNPP
KPAONZ
KBTS
KWWW
KY
KJRE
KPAOKMDRKE
KCRCM
KSCS
KWMNCI
KESO
KWUN
KPLS
KIIP
KEDEM
KPAOY
KRIF
KGICKS
KREF
KTRD
KFRDSOCIRO
KTAO
KJU
KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW
KEN
KO
KNEI
KEMR
KKIV
KEAI
KWAC
KRCIM
KWCI
KFIU
KWIC
KCORR
KOMS
KNNO
KPAI
KBWG
KTTB
KTBD
KTIALG
KILS
KFEM
KTDM
KESS
KNUC
KPA
KOMCCO
KCEM
KRCS
KWBGSY
KNPPIS
KNNPMNUC
KWN
KERG
KLTN
KALM
KCCP
KSUMPHUM
KREL
KGH
KLIP
KTLA
KAWK
KWMM
KVRP
KVRC
KAID
KSLG
KDEMK
KX
KIF
KNPR
KCFC
KFTFN
KTFM
KPDD
KCERS
KMOC
KDEMAF
KMEPI
KEMS
KDRM
KEPREL
KBTR
KEDU
KNP
KIRL
KNNR
KMPT
KISLPINR
KTPN
KA
KJUSTH
KPIN
KDEV
KTDD
KAKA
KFRP
KWNM
KTSD
KINL
KJUSKUNR
KWWMN
KECF
KWBC
KPRO
KVBL
KOM
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KEDM
KFLD
KLPM
KRGY
KNNF
KICR
KIFR
KM
KWMNCS
KAWS
KLAP
KPAK
KDDG
KCGC
KID
KNSD
KMPF
KPFO
KDP
KCMR
KRMS
KNPT
KNNNP
KTIAPARM
KDTB
KNUP
KPGOV
KNAP
KNNC
KUK
KSRE
KREISLER
KIVP
KQ
KTIAEUN
KPALAOIS
KRM
KISLAO
KWM
KFLOA
LE
LU
LH
LA
LG
LO
LY
LANTERN
LI
LABOR
LORAN
LTTE
LT
LAS
LAB
LAW
LVPR
LARREA
LEBIK
LAURA
LS
LOTT
LOVE
LR
LEON
LAVIN
LGAT
LV
LAOS
LOG
LN
LB
MOPS
MO
MARR
ML
MASS
MZ
MR
MNUC
MX
MV
MCC
MY
MEDIA
MTCRE
MG
MCAP
MOPPS
MP
MI
MK
MC
MD
MA
MU
MASC
MW
MT
MEPP
MN
MTCR
MH
MEPI
MIL
MNUCPTEREZ
MMAR
MICHAEL
MUNC
MDC
MPOS
MONUC
MAR
MGMT
MAS
MEPN
MENDIETA
MARIA
MONTENEGRO
MOOPS
MSG
MARITIME
MURRAY
MUKASEY
MOTO
MCA
MFO
MEX
MRSEC
MMED
MACP
MAAR
MINUSTAH
MCCONNELL
MAPP
MGT
MARQUEZ
MANUEL
MNUR
MCCAIN
MF
MOHAMMAD
MOHAMED
MNU
MFA
MILITANTS
MINORITIES
MTS
MLS
MILI
MIAH
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MED
MARAD
MNVC
MINURSO
MNUCUN
MIK
MARK
MBM
MPP
MILITARY
MAPS
MNUK
MILA
MTRRE
MACEDONIA
MICHEL
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
MPS
MARRGH
MRCRE
MTRE
MORALES
MAP
MCTRE
MHUC
MOPSGRPARM
MOROCCO
MCAPS
NL
NU
NS
NI
NPT
NATO
NO
NG
NATEU
NSF
NZ
NAS
NP
NDP
NLD
NGO
NEPAD
NAFTA
NASA
NEA
NGUYEN
NIH
NK
NIPP
NONE
NR
NANCY
NEGROPONTE
NRR
NERG
NSSP
NSG
NSFO
NE
NATSIOS
NFSO
NATIONAL
NTDB
NT
NCD
NTSB
NRC
NELSON
NAM
NH
NPG
NEC
NSC
NFATC
NMFS
NATOIRAQ
NAR
NZUS
NARC
NCCC
NA
NC
NEW
NRG
NUIN
NOVO
NATOPREL
NEY
NV
NICHOLAS
NPA
NW
NARCOTICS
NORAD
NOAA
NON
NTTC
NKNNP
NMNUC
NUMBERING
ODIP
OIIP
OPRC
OSCE
OREP
OTRA
OPET
OSCI
OVIP
OECD
OCII
OUALI
OPDC
OEXC
OFPD
OPIC
OFDP
OPCW
OECV
OAS
OM
OMIG
ODAG
OPREP
ORA
OIC
OEXCSCULKPAO
OIG
OASS
OFFICIALS
ORTA
OSAC
OIL
OIE
OEXP
OPEC
OPDAT
OMS
OES
OHI
OMAR
OCRA
OFSO
OCBD
OSTA
OAO
ONA
OTP
ORC
OAU
OXEC
OA
ODPC
OPDP
OVIPPRELUNGANU
OASC
OSHA
OPCD
OTR
OPPI
OPCR
OF
OFDPQIS
OSIC
OHUM
OSTRA
OASCC
OBSP
OFDA
OPICEAGR
OIM
OGAC
OTA
OTRAORP
OPPC
OESC
OCEA
OVP
ON
OPAD
OTAR
OCS
ODC
OTRD
OCED
OSD
ORUE
OREG
PHUM
PINR
PTER
PGOV
PREL
PREF
PL
PM
PHSA
PE
PARM
PINS
PK
PUNE
PO
PALESTINIAN
PU
PBTS
PROP
PTBS
POL
POLI
PA
PGOVZI
POLMIL
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POLM
PD
POLITICS
POLICY
PAS
PMIL
PINT
PNAT
PV
PKO
PPOL
PERSONS
PING
PBIO
PH
PETR
PARMS
PRES
PCON
PETERS
PRELBR
PT
PLAB
PP
PAK
PDEM
PKPA
PSOCI
PF
PLO
PTERM
PJUS
PSOE
PELOSI
PROPERTY
PGOVPREL
PARP
PRL
PNIR
PHUMKPAL
PG
PREZ
PGIC
PBOV
PAO
PKK
PROV
PHSAK
PHUMPREL
PROTECTION
PGOVBL
PSI
PRELPK
PGOVENRG
PUM
PRELKPKO
PATTY
PSOC
PRIVATIZATION
PRELSP
PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ
PMIG
PREC
PAIGH
PROG
PSHA
PARK
PETER
POG
PHUS
PPREL
PS
PTERPREL
PRELPGOV
POV
PKPO
PGOVECON
POUS
PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN
PWBG
PMAR
PREM
PAR
PNR
PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO
PARMIR
PGOVGM
PHUH
PARTM
PN
PRE
PTE
PY
POLUN
PPEL
PDOV
PGOVSOCI
PIRF
PGOVPM
PBST
PRELEVU
PGOR
PBTSRU
PRM
PRELKPAOIZ
PGVO
PERL
PGOC
PAGR
PMIN
PHUMR
PVIP
PPD
PGV
PRAM
PINL
PKPAL
PTERE
PGOF
PINO
PHAS
PODC
PRHUM
PHUMA
PREO
PPA
PEPFAR
PGO
PRGOV
PAC
PRESL
PORG
PKFK
PEPR
PRELP
PREFA
PNG
PGOVPHUMKPAO
PRELECON
PINOCHET
PFOR
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PRELC
PREK
PHUME
PHJM
POLINT
PGOVPZ
PGOVKCRM
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PECON
PEACE
PROCESS
PLN
PRELSW
PAHO
PEDRO
PRELA
PASS
PPAO
PGPV
PNUM
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGIV
PRFE
POGOV
PEL
PBT
PAMQ
PINF
PSEPC
POSTS
PHUMPGOV
PVOV
PHSAPREL
PROLIFERATION
PENA
PRELTBIOBA
PIN
PRELL
PGOVPTER
PHAM
PHYTRP
PTEL
PTERPGOV
PHARM
PROTESTS
PRELAF
PKBL
PRELKPAO
PKNP
PARMP
PHUML
PFOV
PERM
PUOS
PRELGOV
PHUMPTER
PARAGRAPH
PERURENA
PBTSEWWT
PCI
PETROL
PINSO
PINSCE
PQL
PEREZ
PBS
RS
REFUGEES
RW
RP
RELFREE
RO
REGIONAL
RIGHTS
REACTION
REPORT
RU
RENAMO
RIGHTSPOLMIL
REFORM
RM
REFUGEE
REL
RELATIONS
ROW
RREL
REGION
RATIFICATION
RBI
RICE
ROOD
RODENAS
RUIZ
RODHAM
ROBERT
RGY
ROY
REUBEN
RELIGIOUS
RUEHZO
RODRIGUEZ
RUEUN
RELAM
RSP
RF
RSO
RCMP
REO
ROSS
RPTS
RENE
REID
RUPREL
RMA
RI
REMON
RPEL
RFE
RFIN
RA
RAFAEL
RAY
RUS
RPREL
ROBERTG
RECIN
RAMONTEIJELO
SNAR
SP
SN
SMIG
SL
SOCI
SU
SG
SF
SENV
SZ
SOE
SCUL
SY
SO
SR
SYR
SE
SA
SW
SIPDIS
SCIENCE
SADC
SI
SCI
SOCIETY
SC
SAARC
STR
SECRETARY
SANC
SSH
ST
SNA
SGWI
SEP
SOCIS
SETTLEMENTS
SPECIALIST
SK
SHUM
START
STET
SCVL
SREF
SCHUL
SCUIL
SYRIA
SECURITY
SPCE
SYAI
SMIL
SOWGC
STEPHEN
SNRV
SKCA
SENSITIVE
SECI
SNAP
SPP
SCUD
SOM
SPECI
SMIGBG
SENC
SCRM
SGNV
SECTOR
SENVEAGREAIDTBIOECONSOCIXR
SENVSXE
SASIAIN
SACU
SENVSPL
SWMN
STEINBERG
SOPN
SOCR
SCOI
SCRS
SILVASANDE
SWE
SARS
SNARIZ
SUDAN
SENVQGR
SM
SNARKTFN
SAAD
SD
SAN
SIPRNET
STATE
SENS
SUBJECT
SFNV
SECSTATE
SSA
SPCVIS
SOI
SOFA
SCULKPAOECONTU
SPTER
SKSAF
SENVKGHG
SHI
SEVN
SANR
SPSTATE
SMITH
SCOM
SH
SNARCS
SNARN
SIPRS
SNARM
SIPDI
SCPR
SNIG
SELAB
SULLIVAN
SENVENV
SECDEF
SOLIC
SOIC
SPAS
SASC
SOSI
SEC
SEN
SENVCASCEAIDID
TU
TH
TW
TSPA
TRGY
TPHY
TBIO
TIFA
TS
TZ
TX
TSPL
TT
TK
TC
TINT
TERFIN
TERRORISM
TIP
TURKEY
TI
TECHNOLOGY
TNGD
TRSY
TRAFFICKING
TOPEC
TPSL
TP
TD
TR
TA
TIO
TREATY
TO
THPY
TECH
TRADE
TPSA
TG
TAGS
TF
TRAD
THKSJA
TVBIO
TNDG
TN
TBIOZK
TWI
TV
TWL
TRT
TWRO
TSRY
TTPGOV
TAUSCHER
TRBY
TRBIO
TL
TPKO
TIA
TGRY
TSPAM
TREL
TNAR
TBI
TFIN
TPHYPA
TWCH
THOMMA
THOMAS
TERROR
TRY
TBID
TPP
TE
THANH
TJ
TBKIO
UNGA
USUN
UN
UG
UNSC
UK
UP
US
UNCTAD
UNVIE
UNHRC
USTR
UNAMA
UNCRIME
UNESCO
UV
UNDP
UNHCR
UNCSD
UNCHR
UZ
USAID
UNEP
UNO
UNPUOS
UY
UNDC
UNCITRAL
UNAUS
UNCND
UA
UNMIK
USTDA
USEU
USDA
UNICEF
UR
UNFICYP
USNC
USTRRP
UNODC
UNRWA
UNOMIG
USTRPS
USAU
USCC
UNEF
UNGAPL
UNFPA
UNSCE
USSC
UGA
UEU
UNMIC
UNTAC
UNION
UNCLASSIFIED
USPS
UNA
UMIK
USOAS
UNMOVIC
UNFA
UNAIDS
UNCHC
USGS
UNSE
UNRCR
UNTERR
USG
UE
UAE
UNWRA
UNCSW
UNSCR
UNCHS
UNDESCO
UNPAR
UNC
UB
UNSCS
UKXG
UNGACG
UNREST
UNHR
USPTO
UNFCYP
USCG
UNIDROIT
UNSCD
UPU
UNBRO
UNECE
USTRUWR
UNCC
UNESCOSCULPRELPHUMKPALCUIRXFVEKV
VM
VE
VT
VETTING
VN
VZ
VIS
VC
VTPREL
VIP
VTEAID
VTEG
VOA
VA
VTIZ
VANG
VISIT
VO
VENZ
VAT
VI
VEPREL
VEN
WFP
WTO
WHO
WTRO
WBG
WMO
WIPO
WA
WI
WSIS
WHA
WCL
WE
WMN
WEBZ
WS
WAR
WZ
WMD
WW
WILLIAM
WEET
WAEMU
WM
WWBG
WWT
WWARD
WITH
WMDT
WTRQ
WCO
WEU
WALTER
WRTO
WB
WHTI
WBEG
WCI
WEF
WAKI
WHOA
WGC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 07KYIV113, UKRAINE: 2007 INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07KYIV113.
| Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07KYIV113 | 2007-01-18 12:55 | 2011-08-24 16:30 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Kyiv |
VZCZCXYZ0002
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHKV #0113/01 0181255
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181255Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY KYIV
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0914
INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RUCPCIM/CIMS NTDB WASHDC
UNCLAS KYIV 000113
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/IFD/OIA (JNHATCHER) AND EUR/UMB
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR FOR KLEIN/MOLNAR
USDOC FOR 4201/DOC/ITA/MAC/BISNIS
USDOC FOR 4231/ITA/OEENIS/NISD/CLUCYCK
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV ETRD KTDB OPIC USTR UP
SUBJECT: UKRAINE: 2007 INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT
REF: 2006 STATE 178303
ΒΆ1. As requested reftel, below is the 2007 Investment
Climate Statement (ICS) for Ukraine. Post is transmitting
the ICS in three separate parts due to its large size.
Post will send the ICS in Microsoft Word version to
EB/IFD/OIA by email.
Begin Text:
A.1. Openness to Foreign Investment
GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS FOREIGN INVESTMENT
When President Viktor Yushchenko took office in January
2005, he made improving the investment climate one of his
top economic policy goals. This led to a number of new
government initiatives, such as creation a State agency for
investment and innovation and a number of investor councils
chaired by the President. Additionally, there have been
several positive steps for U.S.-Ukraine trade and
investment relations over the past year. Both the United
States and the European Union granted Ukraine market
economy status, in February 2006 and December 2005,
respectively. In March 2006 the United States terminated
the application of the Jackson-Vanik amendment to the Trade
Act of 1974 to Ukraine, providing Ukraine permanent normal
trade relations status. International investment companies
rushed to take advantage of the improved mood and held
several large-scale Ukrainian investment conferences in
2005 and 2006, both in Ukraine and abroad. Political
uncertainty dampened investor enthusiasm during the run-up
to the March 2006 parliamentary elections, and in the
ensuing five months it took for Ukraine to form a
government.
After eight years of decline following independence, the
Ukrainian economy has been growing since late 1999, with
real GDP growth at about 7% in 2006. Over the past few
years, Ukraine has liberalized its markets, reduced
regulation, eliminated most licensing requirements,
eliminated most restrictions on foreign exchange and begun
the transformation of the agricultural sector from state-
run farms to private agriculture. After years of
hyperinflation and plummeting currency values, the national
currency, the hryvnia (UAH), has been stable against the
U.S. dollar for over five years. The National Bank of
Ukraine (NBU) allowed it to appreciate about 5% in early
2005, but has maintained a nearly constant exchange rate to
the dollar since then. The inflation rate fell from 2004's
12.3% to 10.3% in 2005, and was expected to be between 10%
and 11% in 2006. Ukraine remains in need of substantial
reforms in order to achieve full economic liberalization.
Ukraine's economy is still shackled by corruption, poorly
developed rule of law, over-regulation, and excessive
government interference in what should be private business
decisions.
Ukraine was not able to achieve its goal of entering the
WTO in 2006, but made significant progress during the year.
Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada (parliament) passed about 20
pieces of legislation helping to bring its trade regime
into consistency with WTO rules. Ukraine also made
progress on its bilateral market access agreements, most
notably with the signing of a bilateral agreement with the
United States on March 6, 2006. Ukraine must still
conclude its last bilateral agreement with Kyrgyzstan.
Foreign investors continued to express little confidence in
the Ukrainian court system. In a growing number of cases,
predatory minority shareholders have been able to procure
dubious court decisions in an effort to wrest control of
companies away from the majority investors. Around a dozen
such attacks, which targeted both Ukrainian companies and
major foreign investors, occurred over the past year.
Ukrainian courts have a long record of striking down or
ignoring contractual provisions that assign legal
responsibility for dispute resolution to a foreign court or
arbitrator. Many investor complaints over the years have
involved the State Tax Administration's (STA) selective
enforcement of tax policy. Businesses have claimed that
STA local and regional branches use investigative authority
to advance favored political or business interests. While
the number of such complaints dropped in 2005, exporters
have suffered from the STA's failure to refund VAT payments
on inputs in a timely fashion. Although some improvements
in payment of refund arrears occurred in late 2005 and
early 2006, in August 2006, the GOU again decreased the
pace of VAT refunds, reimbursing only 76 percent of
verified claims, down from 87 percent refunded in 2005. At
year's end, several major exporters are facing large and
continuously accumulating arrears.
MAJOR LAWS/RULES AFFECTING FOREIGN INVESTMENT
Ukraine's law "On the Foreign Investment Regime" (1996)
provides for equal treatment of foreign and Ukrainian-owned
business with some restrictions in broadcasting and weapons
manufacturing. Although Ukraine passed several laws in
the 1990s that provided tax privileges to joint ventures
with foreign participation, by 2002, these privileges had
been cancelled.
In early 2005, Ukraine lifted all tax and tariff exemptions
to investors in Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in order to
stop large-scale misuse of the zones. Some investors
criticized the abrupt cancellation of the privileges and
the absence of any compensatory provisions, and they said
these actions destabilized the investment climate. U.S.
investors with planned or existing investment in the SEZs
faced substantial losses from the elimination of these
privileges. The new government of Prime Minister Viktor
Yanukovych has announced its intention to re-establish some
tax and customs privileges for investors and export
processors located within SEZs, and stated it would develop
a compensation mechanism for investors who suffered from
the 2005 cancellation. By year's end, no action was taken
to re-establish the SEZs and the planned privileges were
not defined.
Both a new Civil Code and a competing and incompatible new
Commercial Code went into effect on January 1, 2004.
Lawyers and judges continue to grapple with how to
implement the two conflicting laws, which also contradict
some existing legislation. In 2005, the Ukrainian
government proposed to annul the Commercial Code, but as of
the year's end, no corresponding new draft legislation has
yet to be registered in the parliament.
On October 25, 2001, the Ukrainian Parliament passed a Land
Code. It provides for private ownership of land,
facilitating the privatization of land for agricultural
purposes, but also provides for a moratorium on
agricultural land sale until January 1, 2008. Individuals
will not be able to acquire or sell agricultural lots
larger than 100 hectares between 2008-2015. The Land Code
includes a 20-year moratorium on agricultural land sales to
foreigners, though foreigners may own land plots on which
industrial facilities have been built. Efforts to cancel
the moratorium in 2007 have failed. The Rada voted to
override President Yushchenko's veto of the moratorium,
citing the need to first strengthen the legal framework
covering land sale, while Yushchenko called on the Rada to
hasten passage of legislation necessary to end the
moratorium. Such restrictions may delay the development of
a functioning land market, but the overall picture is not
entirely negative, as there is an active market in
agricultural land leasing.
A new Customs Code went into effect January 1, 2004,
codifying uniform procedures for all goods, and creating a
mechanism for submitting a preliminary declaration for
customs clearance for those who declare items on a regular
basis. The Code widened the powers of the State Customs
Service (SCS), granting its staff free access to the
companies' premises where commodities subject to customs
clearing are stored. It also gave the SCS the power to
review foreign trade companies' financial and economic
performance. Both provisions are considered consistent
with WTO norms. December 2005 amendments to the Customs
Code and Single Customs Tariff brought Ukraine's customs
regime almost fully into compliance with the WTO Customs
Valuation and Rules of Origin Agreements.
Under the 2001 law, "On the Customs Tariff of Ukraine,"
only the Rada can introduce or change tariffs. The import
tariff system of Ukraine has 21 sections, encompasses 97
groups of goods, and lists over 11,000 import duty rates.
Between March and July 2005, the parliament passed three
packages of amendments to the Customs Code of Ukraine to
decrease tariff rates. These measures brought the normal
average tariff rate down to 6.5 percent, or more
specifically to 13.8 percent (down from 19.7 percent) for
agricultural goods and 4.4 percent (down from 8.3 percent)
for industrial goods.
Ukraine's anti-monopoly committee implements anti-monopoly,
competition, and consumer protection legislation under the
March 2002 law "On Protection of Economic Competition."
New companies and mergers/acquisitions face strict
controls. Most investments, joint ventures with multiple
partners, and share acquisitions require the committee's
approval. The law requires that the Committee obtain a
court order before entering private property. Those
violating fair competition rules may be fined up to 10% of
the prior year's turnover. If unfairly gained profit
exceeds 10% of income, up to three times the normal penalty
can be collected. Legal experts have expressed concern
over restrictions on who may appeal a Committee decision.
PRIVATIZATION AND FOREIGN PARTICIPATION
Ukraine's privatization law provides for the cash sale of
majority shareholdings in state enterprises, open bidding
procedures, and the use of independent financial advisers
to assist Ukraine's State Property Fund (SPF). In
practice, however, privatizations conducted between early
2000 and 2004 were non-transparent and arbitrary -- and
were marked by heavy behind-the-scenes political
interference. In 2005, the new government of President
Yushchenko undertook a review of past privatizations with
the professed intent of invalidating those found to have
been corrupt reselling thQnterprises. The government
secured a court ruling invalidating the May 2004
privatization of Ukraine's major steel plant,
Kryvorizhstal, which the son in law of then-President
Kuchma acquired for $800 million. The GOU conducted a new
transparent tender open to international participation and
sold the enterprise to Mittal Steel in October 2005 for
$4.8 billion. The government's failure to articulate a
clear policy regarding past privatizations other than
Kryvorizhstal created significant uncertainty among
business owners and prospective investors. By early 2006,
the government under Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov
dropped its effort to redress improper past privatizations
and the Yanukovych government has not revisited this
policy.
There were few new privatizations of major state
enterprises in 2006. As of October 2006, only 15% ($64
million) of the year's target for privatization had been
transferred to the budget.
Ukrainian law formerly limited foreign participation in
privatization of certain "strategic" enterprises (radio,
television, energy, and insurance). Foreign shares of TV
and radio broadcasting and publishing companies generally
could not exceed 30%. On January 12, 2006, Ukraine's
Parliament adopted a new law "On Television and Radio
Broadcasting" that eliminated restrictions on the share of
foreign capital in the charter funds of television and
radio broadcasting companies. Foreigners are now
prohibited from founding TV or radio stations, however.
Ukrainian law continues to limit foreign participation in
the privatization of a few "strategic" sectors, such as
energy, although the Rada retains the authority to lift
legislative restrictions on foreign ownership in specific
instances, and has done so on occasion.
PROCUREMENT
Ukraine is not a signatory to the WTO Agreement on
Government Procurement but is negotiating WTO accession. A
March 2000 government procurement law favors Ukrainian
bidders on contracts to sell goods and services, affording
a 10% differential to domestic bidders over foreigners in
certain cases. Foreign investors also complain about a
lack of advance notice of rules and requirements for
tenders, covert preferences in tender awards, hidden
conditions on awards that are not defined in tender
announcements, partiality towards domestic investors, and
an inability to resolve grievances and disputes. The
American Chamber of Commerce in Kyiv has reported that many
firms are reluctant to pursue GOU procurement opportunities
out of concern they will be unable to collect payment.
Foreign companies generally win only a tiny fraction of the
total tenders (0.01 percent during the first half of 2006).
A law "On Production Sharing Agreements" (PSA), effective
October 1999, provides a legal framework guaranteeing that
the terms of agreements between foreign investors and the
GOU for natural resources development cannot be changed
once an investment is made. However, additional enabling
legislation is needed in order to harmonize Ukrainian laws
with the PSA's joint exploration and production license.
Also needed are Cabinet of Ministers resolutions to
establish special tax benefits envisioned by the PSA law,
such as the amount of profit tax revenue the government
will receive from the PSA producer. The development of
PSA's is being tested after the GOU awarded the U.S.
company Vanco a tender for the Prikercheskiy block for
offshore oil exploration in the Black Sea. Vanco and the
GOU are, as of the year's end, negotiating the terms of the
PSA for this project.
In December 2005 Parliament adopted amendments to the law
"On Procurement of Goods, Works and Services Using State
Funds" of February 22, 2000. The amendments, which entered
into force in March 2006, transferred the authority to
coordinate government procurement from the Ministry of
Economy to the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine. The
authority to oversee government procurement was distributed
among a range of agencies, including the Antimonopoly
Committee, the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine, and the
quasi-governmental Tender Chamber of Ukraine. The
amendments have been criticized for creating an overlap in
authority of various regulatory agencies and decreasing the
transparency of the system. Under Ukraine's amended law,
the Tender Chamber has exclusive authority to review claims
of tender participants and issue recommendations regarding
single-supplier procurement. The measure introduces
burdensome and lengthy procurement procedures, and requires
all tender proposals to be secured by collateral, limiting
the number of tender participants and increasing the cost
of the tender participation.
Finally, the new law made it mandatory that procurement by
state enterprises follow government procurement rules and
procedures, rather than permitting the enterprises to make
contracts on a commercial basis. This feature contradicts
accepted international practice and commitments made by
Ukraine in WTO negotiations. Ukraine is not currently a
signatory to the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement
(AGP), but will become an observer to the AGP at the time
of WTO accession, and could start AGP negotiations by
requesting membership one year after accession.
A.2. Conversion and Transfer Policies
RESTRICTIONS ON CONVERTING/TRANSFERRING FUNDS
The April 1996 "Foreign Investment Law" guaranteed the
"unhindered transfer" of profits, revenues, and other
proceeds in foreign currency after taxes and other
mandatory payments. By intervening in exchange markets,
the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) maintains a de facto peg
of Ukraine's currency, the hryvnia, to the dollar. In
2006, the hryvnia traded against the U.S. dollar at or near
UAH 5.05 to the dollar.
While foreign investors may repatriate earnings, companies
must obtain a license from the NBU for some operations.
For repatriation of hard currency, each transaction over
$50,000 must be approved by the NBU. The NBU also charges
a fee to review the transaction. In view of increased hard
currency inflows, the NBU on March 31, 2005, canceled its
1998 surrender requirement that exporters convert half of
their hard currency revenues into hryvnias. Foreign
exchange is readily available at market-determined rates,
which generally do not vary greatly from the daily official
exchange rate. In February 2005, the NBU lifted the 2%
limitation on deviation of bank exchange rates from the
official exchange rate, which had been in effect since
October 2004. A pension fund tax is levied on transactions
to purchase hard currency. A 2005 GOU decision to reduce
that tax from 1.5% to 1.2% of the amount of the transaction
as of January 1, 2006 was never implemented, but the State
Budget for 2007 includes a measure reducing the rate to
1.3%.
Foreign investors have complained of cumbersome NBU
regulations (2005 Resolutions 280 and 281) requiring them
to open local accounts in Ukrainian banks and to use the
services of Ukrainian brokers in order to make investments
in Ukraine. Past direct investors seeking to liquidate and
repatriate their investments face stringent documentary
requirements, though the NBU has stated its willingness to
waive requirements if documents from the original
transactions are no longer available.
Investors convert their earnings into foreign currency
through commercial banks, which purchase foreign currency
on the electronic inter-bank currency market. Commercial
banks may trade foreign currency in electronic form with
other banks through participation in electronic inter-bank
currency market, regulated and operated by the NBU. To
purchase hard currency, companies must provide their banks
with a copy of their foreign trade contracts. In an
attempt to expedite purchases of hard currency, in March,
2005, the National Bank of Ukraine cancelled the
requirement that companies obtain State Tax Administration
permission to purchase hard currency. Commercial banks
must announce their clients' intentions to sell on inter-
bank currency market if the transactions exceeded $500,000.
The law "On the Circulation of Promissory Notes" provides
an opportunity for payments in foreign currency and
issuance and circulation of promissory notes, in accordance
with the 1930 Geneva Convention "Providing a Uniform Law
for Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes." Residents may
transfer up to USD 600 abroad without opening a bank
account. Illegal trade of hard currency is not a criminal
matter but brings administrative penalties.
A.3. Expropriation and Compensation
Under the 1996 law "On the Regime of Foreign Investment," a
qualified foreign investor is provided guarantees against
nationalization, except in cases of national emergencies,
accidents, or epidemics. International institutions have
recommended that definitions of expropriation and
nationalization in the foreign investment law and bilateral
treaties be expanded to include indirect and creeping
expropriation. Courts can determine whether owners of
privatized enterprises failed to pay for an enterprise or
to implement investment commitments in a privatization
sale. Failure to pay or invest allows the GOU, with court
permission, to revoke ownership and resell the property.
A.4. Dispute Settlement
EXTENT AND NATURE OF INVESTMENT DISPUTES
The Embassy continues to provide advocacy on behalf of U.S.
investors. For many years, investment disputes frequently
have involved key problems with the investment climate such
as the lack of adequate rule of law, fair and impartial
dispute resolution mechanisms, and enforcement of domestic
court and international arbitration decisions. Another
problem is poor corporate governance (inadequate protection
for shareholder rights, inadequate disclosure, asset-
stripping, and voting fraud). Dispute settlement remains
weak. Currently, there is no single point of contact in
the Ukrainian government committed to helping resolve
business and investment disputes. Most U.S. businesses
have little confidence in Ukrainian courts. Commercial
contracts may permit the parties to use international
arbitration or specified foreign courts to settle disputes.
Though Ukrainian legislation recognizes international
arbitration decisions, in practice such decisions are very
difficult to enforce in Ukraine.
Corruption continues to lie at the heart of many investor
disputes. Laws and regulations are vague, with
considerable room for interpretation, providing officials
at every bureaucratic layer ample opportunities for
corruption. Foreign investors are often seen as
competitors to domestic firms and their allies in the
government.
DESCRIPTION OF UKRAINE'S LEGAL SYSTEM
Ukraine has a civil law system relying on codes and
separate legislative acts. The court system comprises the
Constitutional Court, which interprets the Constitution and
laws of Ukraine, and a system of courts of general
jurisdiction. The courts of general jurisdiction are
further divided into general courts, which handle civil,
criminal, and administrative matters, and specialized
commercial courts, which review business disputes,
bankruptcy, and anti-monopoly cases. Both the general and
commercial court systems feature a hierarchy of local
and/or regional courts and appeals courts. The Supreme
Court of Ukraine is the highest court in the system of
courts of general jurisdiction.
The law "On the Judiciary," in force as of June 2002,
creates four levels of courts -- local courts, courts of
appeal, courts of cassation (higher specialized courts) and
the Supreme Court. This law also establishes an
independent judicial department, the State Judicial
Administration, to manage the court system, with the
exception of the Supreme Court, which is self-administered.
The law did increase the independence of the judiciary; but
it also in some cases increased the powers of the President
over the judiciary. While the law envisioned the creation
of a separate system of Administrative courts, this system
is not yet fully set up. The Supreme Administrative Court
started its work only in the fall of 2005. The
Administrative Procedural Code, which entered into force on
September 1, 2005, governs the organization and work of the
administrative courts.
The National Commission on Democracy and the Rule of Law
prepared a "Concept of Improvement of the Judicial System,"
signed by President Yushchenko on May 10, 2006. The
document outlines a program for comprehensive judicial
reforms, but has yet to be implemented.
ENFORCEMENT OF RIGHTS
Investors criticize Ukraine's legal system for its
inefficiency, burdensome procedures, unpredictability,
corruption, and susceptibility to political interference.
Even when they obtain favorable decisions, investors claim
the decisions are rarely enforced. The enforcement
responsibilities fall under the State Enforcement Service,
which reports to the Ministry of Justice, but whose head is
appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers.
The procedure for recognizing and enforcing foreign court
decisions is regulated by Section 8 of the Code of Civil
Court Procedures of Ukraine. In accordance with the Code,
a foreign court decision is recognized and enforced in
Ukraine if such recognition and enforcement is provided for
in international treaties, the mandatory nature of which
has been endorsed by the Rada, or based on a mutual ad-hoc
agreement with a foreign state whose court has rendered a
decision that is to be enforced in Ukraine.
The State Enforcement Service implements decisions rendered
by foreign courts and arbitration tribunals in accordance
with the law "On Enforcement Proceedings." The law "On
Implementing Decisions and Applying Practices of the
European Court of Human Rights" entered into force on March
30, 2006. Along with a subsequent Cabinet of Ministers
implementing Resolution, the law obligates the Ministry of
Justice to ensure implementation of the Court's decisions.
COMMERCIAL LAW
A new Civil Code and a competing and incompatible
Commercial Code both went into effect on January 1, 2004.
Lawyers and judges have since grappled with how to
implement the two conflicting laws. Despite heavy
criticism of the Commercial Code by businessmen and GOU
officials, the Rada has not yet taken action to amend or
annul it. The Civil Code ensures protection of the rights
of private property, of engaging in contracts, and of
entrepreneurial activity. It provides a unified framework
for economic regulations.
The Civil Code is generally market-oriented and modern, but
the Commercial Code is often contrary to market economy
principles and directly contradicts provisions of the Civil
Code in numerous instances. The Commercial Code aims to
preserve a privileged position for the public sector of the
economy and allows for governmental interference in private
commercial relations. Further, in both codes gaps in
regulation exist. The existence of these two codes creates
uncertainty in planning and structuring transactions, and
leaves questions surrounding transactions unanswered.
Problems arising from these two codes also surface in the
resolution of disputes, as courts are not able to resolve
the conflicting provisions of the codes, or are not able to
fill in the gaps in regulation that arise as a result of
the missing provisions in the codes. Finally, other
E
commercial laws have not been harmonized with these codes.
A 1999 bankruptcy law provides for debtor-led
reorganization, a meaningful moratorium on payment and
collection of pre-existing debt, and a tax forgiveness
provision. The 1999 law provided thousands of heavily
indebted industrial enterprises with an alternative to
liquidation that did not exist under Ukraine's original
1992 bankruptcy law. Since then, many firms have reached
amicable settlements with their creditors and established a
workable schedule of debt forgiveness and repayment.
Creditors protect their rights under the law by electing a
creditors' committee, which is actively involved in the
bankruptcy proceedings.
Most observers believe the bankruptcy laws must be amended
to provide more protection for creditors. Notice
provisions, protections for the rights of minority
shareholders, and procedures for valuation and the sale of
assets to satisfy liabilities are undeveloped.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Problems with corporate governance in Ukraine involve
corporate ownership, shareholder rights, transparency, and
disclosure. The law "On Companies" offers scant protection
for minority shareholders against insider dealing, asset
stripping, profit skimming, and share dilution. Corporate
finance is restricted. Some examples of shareholder rights
abuses include limited disclosure, capital restructuring
without shareholders' consent, and shareholder voting
fraud. Nevertheless, a Company Register that was
established in 2004 improved transparency. A new Joint
Stock Company law was first drafted in 1998 to improve the
current law by introducing sound corporate practices that
meet international standards. It has failed repeatedly in
parliament, despite increasing interest in the business
community. The Rada has not yet considered the most recent
version of this law, submitted in June 2006.
BINDING INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION
Ukraine enacted an international commercial arbitration law
in February 1994, which parallels commercial arbitration
laws set forth by the United Nations Commission on
International Trade Law. Ukraine is a member of the New
York Convention of 1958 on the Recognition and Enforcement
of Foreign Arbitration Awards. Some investors have
problems enforcing foreign arbitration awards in Ukraine.
Foreign arbitral award enforcement procedures in Ukraine
are regulated by a number of statutes and regulations,
including the Section 8 of the Civil Procedural Code and a
law "On Enforcement Proceedings." In early 2000 Ukraine
ratified the Washington Convention, providing for use of
the International Center for Settlement of Investment
Disputes (ICSID), an internationally recognized mechanism
for resolving investment disputes between investors and the
GOU. The U.S.-Ukraine Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT),
signed in November 1996, recognizes arbitration of
investment disputes before the ICSID. One major investment
dispute involving a U.S. company was resolved in May 2006
through a combination of direct consultations with the
Ukrainian government and international arbitration by
ICSID.
TAYLOR