VZCZCXYZ0005
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHCH #1406/01 3331456
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 291456Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5963
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L CHISINAU 001406 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/UMB 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2017 
TAGS: PREL PBTS OSCE PGOV MD
SUBJECT: SEEKING TO REGAIN MOMENTUM ON TRANSNISTRIA 
 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Kelly Keiderling for reasons 1.4 
 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary:  In a November 27 meeting on the eve of his 
departure for the OSCE Ministerial in Madrid, Minister of 
Reintegration Sova was angry that the Spanish had given 
Litskai a visa and threatened a GOM walkout.  Ambassador 
Kirby counseled a more measured diplomatic approach that 
would allow Moldova to take the moral high ground.  Minister 
Sova said that a revised text of the Transnistria 
vehicle-registration decree had been prepared, removing the 
terms that were most objectionable to the Transnistrians. 
End Summary. 
 
Diplomatic Approach Better than Anger 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) With some indignation Minister Sova informed 
Ambassador Kirby that Transnistrian "Foreign Minister" 
Litskai was already in Madrid.  Sova expressed his 
displeasure that the Spanish had given Litskai a visa that 
would enable him to attend the OSCE Ministerial.  Sova 
threatened that the Moldovan delegation would make a huge 
scandal in response and walk out.  The Ambassador counseled 
instead a more measured diplomatic approach and suggested 
allowing others to do the complaining. 
 
¶3. (C) Reminding Sova that the Moldovans had taken many 
positive steps lately to build confidence, the Ambassador 
advised Chisinau to appear conciliatory and eager for a 
resolution.  Let the other side be seen as the problem.  An 
inflexible Chisinau would only serve the interests of hawks 
in Transnistria and Moscow. 
 
Next Steps for 5 plus 2 
----------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) The Ambassador described his recent discussions with 
Ukrainian Ambassador Pirozhkov (November 26).  The two 
Ambassadors had agreed that an informal 5 plus 2 get-together 
in Ukraine in January would be good.  An informal round would 
not require press releases or formal statements. 
 
¶5. (C) The Ambassador suggested that Sova seek out the Finns 
during the OSCE Ministerial and propose an informal 5 plus 2 
round in January.  Such a proposal would demonstrate a desire 
for progress, allowing Chisinau to take the moral high ground. 
 
GOM to Revise License-plate Decree 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) Minister Sova said that the relevant ministries had 
met and agreed upon a revised decree on license plates.  The 
new version removed some of the points most objectionable to 
the Transnistrian side.  Sova said that he was also 
consulting with the EU and the Ukrainians.  While the first 
offending draft had not been signed by the Ministry of 
Reintegration, this revision would be signed by Sova, in 
addition to the Ministers of Information Development, 
Internal Affairs, Finance, Economy and Trade, and Justice. 
The text still has to be approved by Parliament. 
 
¶7. (C) The revised draft removed the prohibition on 
Transnistrian-registered vehicles from traveling outside of 
Moldova and from circulating within right-bank Moldova.  The 
new draft stipulated that vehicles imported into Moldova 
before September 1, 2007 (including those over ten years old) 
could be registered without payment of excise taxes or 
customs duties.  (Note:  Currently, vehicles older than 10 
years old cannot be imported into Moldova.  End note.)  The 
new draft required owners of vehicles that were imported into 
Moldova outside of the current customs framework to register 
them with the Moldovan Government within a year after the law 
goes into effect. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶8. (C) The revised draft law will allow Transnistrians to 
register their cars for free.  The phrase "vehicles imported 
outside of the customs framework" does not specifically name 
vehicles with Transnistrian license plates.  It therefore 
creates - perhaps inadvertently - a window of opportunity for 
Moldovans to import vehicles seven to ten years old into 
Transnistria and then register them in Chisinau at lower 
excise tax rates.  By revising the license-plate decree the 
GOM will take a positive step towards undoing the damage done 
to recent confidence-building momentum. 
 
¶9. (C) Chisinau can seize the moral high ground and regain 
some of the confidence-building momentum lost with the 
license-plate decree.  Though the Spanish had hoped to finish 
their presidency with a grand diplomatic flourish on Moldova, 
their gaffe in granting Litskai a visa without European 
consultations provided just one more proof of their 
ineffective approach.  We are hoping that the Finnish 
presidency will bring new momentum to the 5 plus 2 process. 
KIRBY