VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHCH #1246/01 3570649
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 220649Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7445
RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS CHISINAU 001246 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR S/CT AND EUR/UMB 
NCTC FOR RHONDA SHORE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER ASEC MD
SUBJECT: MOLDOVA: 2008 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM 
 
¶1. Moldova is not a safe haven for terrorists or 
terrorist groups.  No acts of international 
terrorism of major significance have occurred in 
Moldova.  Moldova is not designated as a state 
sponsor of terrorism.  The Moldovan government 
continued to manage its counterterrorism strategy 
based on Moldova's 2003-2008 National Action Plan 
on Combating Terrorism. 
 
¶2. Moldovan support for counterterrorism in 2008 
included the deployment of servicemen to Iraq for 
humanitarian demining operations.  The Moldovan 
demining contingent consisting of twenty personnel 
will return home in late December 2008.  The 
Moldovan Ministry of Defense has one liaison 
officer deployed to CENTCOM headquarters.  In 
2008, Embassy Chisinau and the Moldovan 
government, specifically the Ministry of Internal 
Affairs, did not conduct any joint 
counterterrorism training exercises like those 
which had been done the previous year. 
 
¶3. Moldova continued to work on implementation of 
its obligations under UNSCR 1373, Executive Order 
13224 (the Terrorism Finance Executive Order), and 
provisions related to terrorist financing.  The 
Moldovan government openly welcomes information 
regarding terrorist financing from the USG and 
other bodies and actively applies such information 
in its monitoring efforts through its Center for 
Combating Economic Crimes and Corruption (CCECC). 
One development in 2008 which will aid Moldova's 
counterterrorism efforts is its joining of the 
Egmont Group of financial intelligence units on 
May 20. 
 
¶4. In 2008, the CCECC issued a decree regarding 
actions to be taken to enforce the provisions of 
the Law on Preventing and Combating Money 
Laundering and Terrorism.  The CCECC decree listed 
entities worthy of particular focus due to 
possible money laundering and/or terrorist 
financing concerns.  These entities include 
countries that do not have legal provisions 
against terrorist financing, and persons, groups, 
and entities identified as participating in 
terrorist activities.  The decree was developed on 
the basis of Moldova's national interests and from 
U.S. and UN lists of designated terrorists. 
 
¶5. On December 5, the Moldovan parliament ratified 
a blueprint on cooperation with the Commonwealth 
of Independent States (CIS) states in combating 
terrorism.  This document was originally signed in 
August 2005 and provides for joint measures aimed 
at the prevention and counter-action of terrorism 
and extremism.  The document allows for the 
exchange of information on combating terrorism 
between CIS states, and provides for the 
extradition of persons suspected of financing or 
committing terrorist actions.  The Moldovan 
parliament also ratified the specific program on 
CIS member states' cooperation in combating 
terrorism and extremism for 2008-2010.  This 
three-year program reflects the activities which 
were included in the blueprint. 
 
¶6. The separatist-controlled Transnistria region 
of Moldova remained a potential area of concern. 
Moldovan law enforcement worked hard to track the 
whereabouts and activities of individuals moving 
in and out of Transnistria, an area where central- 
government police and security services are rarely 
able to operate.  Some of these individuals moving 
in and out of Transnistria were foreign students 
who remained in Moldova illegally, as the 
government lacked the resources to deport them 
when their visas expired.  Corruption was endemic, 
and it was easy to obtain false travel documents 
in both Transnistria and Moldova.  Embassy could 
not ascertain whether formal or informal 
cooperation on counterterrorism between Moldova 
and the separatist region of Transnistria took 
place. 
 
¶7. The U.S. Embassy does not maintain liaison 
relationships or contacts with Transnistrian law 
enforcement and/or security service personnel. 
Embassy Chisinau requested informally a meeting 
with Transnistrian public-security personnel, but 
has received no response.  To date, the United 
States has not obtained any information about 
known terrorist organizations or terrorists 
operating from or within this region. 
 
¶8. Law enforcement and intelligence officials had 
the authority to intercept wire, oral, and 
electronic communications, but the investigator 
was required first to obtain prosecutorial 
concurrence and authorization from a judge.  A 
specific section in the Prosecutor General's 
Office would handle any terrorism-related case. 
The primary investigative body in counterterrorism 
cases is the Information and Security Service 
(SIS), Moldova's intelligence service.  In 2006, 
SIS was given the governmental lead to establish 
and manage a special Counterterrorism Center. 
Substantial assistance from the American Embassy's 
law enforcement assistance programs aid Moldovan 
efforts to impede the ability of terrorists and 
other citizens without proper documents to cross 
national borders.  The programs also facilitated 
automation at ports of entry to ensure greater 
security of passports and travel documents. 
 
CHAUDHRY