Kyiv, 11 October 2002 (RFE/RL) -- Ukraine's government handed U.S. Ambassador Carlos Pasqual in Kyiv a formal denial today of U.S. charges that Ukraine has sold sophisticated anti-aircraft radar to Iraq. Ukraine's note expressed concern over the U.S. charges. It said the U.S. government had accepted questionable data about the alleged sale that would not hold up in a U.S. court.
The U.S. State Department said last week that Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma conspired in June 2000 to sell four radars capable of detecting stealth aircraft to Iraq leader Saddam Hussein, in violation of UN sanctions.
A team of U.S. military and diplomatic experts is scheduled to arrive in Ukraine on 13 October to investigate the alleged sale. Ukrainian Prime Minister Anatoliy Kinakh has said the U.S. delegation will receive full cooperation.
The U.S. State Department said last week that Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma conspired in June 2000 to sell four radars capable of detecting stealth aircraft to Iraq leader Saddam Hussein, in violation of UN sanctions.
A team of U.S. military and diplomatic experts is scheduled to arrive in Ukraine on 13 October to investigate the alleged sale. Ukrainian Prime Minister Anatoliy Kinakh has said the U.S. delegation will receive full cooperation.