VZCZCXRO4943
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBW RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHCH #0556 1491242
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 281242Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6712
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS CHISINAU 000556 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/UMB 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PBTS PREL PGOV MD RO
SUBJECT: MOLDOVA AND ROMANIA RESUME TALKS ON BORDER ISSUES 
 
Sensitive But Unclassified.  Please Protect Accordingly. 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  Moldova and Romania resumed talks on the Border 
and Framework Treaties on May 14-15.  These discussions are 
influenced by debates over the Local Border Traffic Convention 
proposed by Romania, which would establish a visa-free travel regime 
for residents of a 30-km zone along the border.  The Government of 
Moldova proposed a simultaneous signing of the Border Treaty and the 
Local Traffic Convention. The Romanian Government sees no connection 
between the two documents.  End Summary. 
 
Negotiations Resume on Border Treaty 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (SBU) A new round of Moldovan-Romanian border-related talks took 
place in Bucharest on May 14-15.  New developments in the dispute 
over the State Border Treaty and the Framework Treaty occurred after 
Romanians suggested in March to the Moldovans that they sign the 
Local Border Traffic Convention (Accord) to establish a visa-free 
travel regime for residents of a 30 km zone along the border. 
(Note:  The Convention is a framework document recommended by the EU 
to its members situated at external EU borders.) 
 
Border Treaty versus Local Traffic Convention 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Even before the May 14-15 talks, Moldovan Foreign Minister 
Stratan stressed that it was impossible to sign the Convention, 
which explicitly refers to state borders, given the absence of a 
bilateral treaty which would define the border. Stratan reiterated 
Moldova's appeal to Romania to resume work on the two treaties and 
expressed readiness to sign the Convention simultaneously with the 
Border Treaty.  The resumption of talks on May 14-15 was followed by 
contradictory assessments of the results of the talks made by the 
two sides.  The Romanian MFA stated that the issue of the Convention 
had not been addressed at the talks, while the Moldovan MFA stated 
that it had been. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Comment:  The Government of Moldova is interested in 
signing the Border Treaty, and the Local  Traffic Border Convention 
offers a good opportunity to raise again the whole range of 
Moldova-Romania border issues.  Romania prefers to address the 
issues separately.  Resumption of dialogue is a positive 
development.  However, the sides will have to demonstrate 
flexibility to reach common ground, which will be difficult given 
the upcoming presidential elections in Romania and parliamentary 
elections in Moldova.  End comment.