VZCZCXRO5926
RR RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHCH #1101/01 3121421
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 071421Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7285
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 001101 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/UMB 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2018 
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID COE EU EUN MD
SUBJECT: COUNCIL OF EUROPE GROUP 
UNIMPRESSED WITH MOLDOVAN REFORMS 
 
Classified by: Ambassador Asif J. Chaudhry 
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary:  In an October 29 meeting 
Vladimir Ristovski, Special Representative 
of the Secretary General of the Council of 
Europe (COE) in Moldova, briefed the 
Ambassador about the recent visit of a 
Council of Europe delegation.  Ristovski 
stated that overall the visiting group 
left with a very negative impression of 
developments in Moldova.  The visitors did 
not believe that Moldova had made adequate 
progress in the reform process.  End 
Summary. 
 
Inadequate Level of Reform 
-------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) Ristovski explained that a recent 
COE delegation had been dissatisfied with 
the level of reform in Moldova.  The 
delegation included Claudia Luciani, 
Director of the Directorate for Political 
Advice and Cooperation, and Olena Petsun, 
Advisor of the Directorate for Political 
Advice and Cooperation.  He pointed out 
that the delegation had suffered an 
unpleasant experience with the People's 
Christian Democratic Party (PPCD).  During 
their meeting, a PPCD member accused the 
European Union of conspiring with the 
Russians.  When asked whether a basis for 
such accusations towards the EU existed, 
Ristovski said of course not. 
 
¶3. (C) The Council of Europe group had the 
impression that Moldova had made 
insufficient progress on reforms, 
especially in the areas of human rights 
and rule of law.  Ristovski also noted 
that Moldovan officials had not been able 
to report on new progress in certain 
areas, such as the penitentiary system. 
For example, he said, no new cells were 
planned for construction. 
 
¶4. (C) The group had the impression that 
the Party of Communists sought to 
consolidate its authority along several 
fronts.  The visitors felt that the ruling 
party did not truly intend to undertake 
actual improvements in areas needing 
reform.  They had the impression that, in 
meetings with Deputy Foreign Minister 
Kistruga, she did not seem to know what 
she was speaking about, and they thought 
that she was covering for her superiors 
without sufficient preparation. 
 
¶5. (C) Overall, the situation in Moldova 
did not impress the COE visitors.  The COE 
visitors believed that Moldovans had not 
made enough improvements, although they 
noted progress in areas such as anti- 
corruption.  The Council of Europe group 
considered improvements such as this, 
however, to be slight.  Ristovski 
emphasized that the Council of Europe was 
ready to help, but believed that Moldova 
was not ready to make real changes.  He 
also said that the Government of Moldova 
was clearly equating the interests of the 
state with those of the Party of 
Communists. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶6. (C) Members of the European community 
seem to be divided into two schools of 
thought regarding reforms in Moldova.  The 
first school believes that once a European 
Union promise for future membership for 
Moldova is extended, then reform will 
follow.  The second school expects reform 
to come first and then membership may be 
offered as a reward.  Ristovski appears to 
favor the first school of thought, 
although the two members of the COE 
 
CHISINAU 00001101  002 OF 002 
 
 
delegation were of the latter school.  We 
believe that the COE delegationQs negative 
assessment failed to take into account 
many positive reforms which the Moldovans 
have put into place including the 
establishment of the Center for Combating 
Trafficking in Persons (CCTIP) and 
improvements in legislation regarding 
anti-corruption.  Regarding the COE 
delegationQs observation on prisons in 
Moldova, the Moldovan Ministry of Justice 
announced the tender for construction of a 
penitentiary institution of 1600 places of 
detention in Chisinau.  The tender was 
scheduled to be examined on October 23. 
 
KEIDERLING