URGING HIGH-LEVEL CANADIAN ENGAGEMENT ON MOLDOVA

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 002232

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2013
TAGS: PREL PBTS EU MD CA OSCE
SUBJECT: URGING HIGH-LEVEL CANADIAN ENGAGEMENT ON MOLDOVA

REF: STATE 223920

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Brian Flora,
Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Canada agrees with us that more pressure needs to be
brought to bear on the Moldovan peace process and the
withdrawal of Russian forces, and will seek opportunities to
do so. Embassy Political Minister Counselor discussed reftel
demarche with Norbert Kalisch, Acting Assistant Deputy
Minister for Europe and the most senior official available at
Foreign Affairs. Kalisch said that Canadian Deputy FM Peter
Harder may be visiting Moscow in October, and that he could
raise it at that time with DFM Trubnikov.


2. (C) Kalisch noted that during a Trubnikov visit to Ottawa
in 2002, Canada had suggested that Moldova/Transnistria be
one of the topics for discussion with POLDIR Jim Wright, but
that Russia vetoed the suggestion. Kalisch said that a
Harder visit would be a good opportunity to press on this
issue, and that the GoC would look for opportunities to raise
other relevant parties as well.
KELLY