KYIV. Oct 4 (Interfax-Ukraine)- Ukrainian presidential chief- of- staff Viktor Medvedchuk and U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Carlos Pascual have discussed ways to organize the work of U.S. and British experts who are expected to arrive in Ukraine on October 13.
They will help conduct a joint investigation into the accusations of the alleged sale of Kolchuga radar systems to Iraq.
British embassy official Donald McLaren, the embassy's military attache Henry Nowak and U.S. embassy military attache Stuart Mehers were present at the meeting in Kyiv on Thursday, according to the presidential administration's main information department.
Medvedchuk informed the U.S. and British officials on the measures that Ukraine is taking to guarantee favorable conditions for the foreign experts' work. He said that earlier in the day, the presidential administration met with officials from the ministries and agencies that will collaborate with the experts.
The presidential chief-of-staff noted that Ukraine is ready for the investigation and is expecting proposals from the U.S. and British officials.
Earlier, Washington confirmed the authenticity of tapes that former security officer Mykola Melnychenko made in President Leonid Kuchma's office, which contain information of the deliveries of Kolchuga systems to Iraq. Afterwards, the State Department said that it would suspend financial and economic assistance to Ukraine.
Kyiv rejected the accusations of alleged weapons sales to Iraq. Ukrainian officials suggested conducting an open investigation with the participation of international experts.