VZCZCXRO9724
RR RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHCH #0416/01 1071419
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 161419Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6564
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 000416 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/UMB 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2018 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PBTS MD
SUBJECT: DAS MERKEL AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS TRANSNISTRIA, MCC, 
ROMANIA, AND EU WITH FM STRATAN 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Michael D. Kirby, for reasons 1.4 (b) and 
(d). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary:  On April 14, in a meeting with Minister of Foreign 
Affairs and European Integration Andrei Stratan, DAS David Merkel 
discussed possibilities for a Transnistrian settlement, and warned 
against locking in neutrality.  He encouraged Moldova to make 
progress on MCC, Article 98, and border and political treaties with 
Romania.  Ambassador Kirby briefed Stratan on his successful trip to 
Tiraspol on April 11 for discussions on MCC.  Stratan thanked the 
U.S. for its continued support on these issues, and blamed Romania as 
the principal hindrance to forward motion.  End summary. 
 
Moldova and Transnistria:  Good Omens, Some Constraints 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶2. (C)  Stratan conveyed his thanks for U.S. support on Transnistria 
and the EU.  He stressed favorable harbingers of a Transnistrian 
settlement:  a friendly government in Ukraine, whose FM is visiting 
April 13-14, and with which Moldova is discussing final rectification 
of its left-bank border; and a real Russian desire to solve the 
issue, mixed with concern over what instructions Smirnov would 
receive from Moscow.  Stratan also noted Moldova's non-negotiable 
positions:  neutrality in the Constitution, and Russian fulfillment 
of 1999 Istanbul commitments.  He also signaled his willingness to 
let the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) negotiations (on 
expanding EUBAM's responsibilities to include migration issues) wait 
until after a Transnistrian settlement.  Stratan stressed that the 
desire of some European countries to see the solution occur after 
March 2009 elections misses the point that the agreement is about 
people and not about any government that is or will be. 
 
Ambassador Briefs on Successful Trip to Tiraspol 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶3. (C) Ambassador Kirby noted a successful trip to Tiraspol on April 
11 to discuss MCC and the possibility of Compact Program 
road-building.  The Transnistrians were pleased with U.S. interest in 
the left-bank, but also a bit puzzled that Moldova included them in 
the plans.  FM Stratan was even more pleased at the Ambassador's 
statement that the left bank was being included because it was a part 
of Moldova.  Ambassador Kirby, noting his pleasure that Reintegration 
Minister Sova had briefed the Moldovan opposition on settlement 
talks, said that Supreme Soviet Speaker Shevchuk expressed his desire 
that Transnistrian "Foreign Minister" Litskai would similarly brief 
the left-bank legislature, which is now functioning as a 
quasi-opposition. 
 
Stratan Pillories Romania as Main Barrier 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) In response to questions about Romania, FM Stratan noted the 
change of attitude in Bucharest after EU accession in 2007, Stratan 
said that, with Romania hiding behind its EU membership, Moldova is 
afraid to criticize Romania without offending the rest of the EU. 
Romania, he stated, is trying to lure Moldovan citizens with Romanian 
passports, telling Moldova to integrate with Romania (and ignore 
Transnistria), ignoring the 1947 treaty that drew east European 
borders, failing to respond to Moldova's wish to sign, and possibly 
planning to block a renewal of the EU-Moldova Action Plan (which he 
believed would be issued this month or in May).  There are forces in 
Romania, he concluded, which are happy with an unsuccessful Moldova. 
 
Merkel Briefs on Neutrality, Settlement, EU, and Romania 
---------------------------- --------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) DAS Merkel stated that Moldova's neutrality should be 
something for Moldovans, present and future, to decide, and not for 
others.  Merkel noted that a Transnistrian settlement would create a 
clearer road to the EU, and promised to meet EU officials (and those 
in the Quad) and relay views on Moldova.  He noted common 
U.S.-Moldovan CFE interests, and praised Moldova for qualifying for 
MCC, calling it an opportunity to make Moldova more attractive to 
investors. 
 
Final Points: Article 98, NATO, and GUAM 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) DAS Merkel also urged Moldova to sign Article 98.   Stratan 
replied that the Ministry of Justice was implementing Moldova's 
strategy of holding off a Rome Treaty signature until after signing 
an Article 98 agreement.  (Note:  the Ministry of Justice has delayed 
its response to us.  The GOM fears an EU reaction against signing, 
and will wait until after the new EU-Moldova Action Plan is ratified. 
 End note.)  Ambassador Kirby reminded FM Stratan that EU-member 
Malta had just joined PFP, and that Moldova was further along than 
that; he emphasized that EU membership without being in NATO was very 
much a possibility.  The Ambassador also encouraged Stratan to send 
clearer signals on Moldova's participation in GUAM, extracting a 
semi-promise from Stratan to try to revitalize Moldova's 
 
CHISINAU 00000416  002 OF 002 
 
 
participation. 
 
¶7. (C) Comment:  Stratan was as cooperative and appreciative as 
always, but his dissatisfaction with Romania underscores Moldova's 
frustration with its western neighbor, and his perception that 
Romania is a bigger roadblock to Moldova's aspirations than is 
Russia. 
 
¶8. (U) DAS Merkel has cleared this cable. 
 
Kirby