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