OSCE: MOLDOVA HIGH-LEVEL ENVOY DEMARCHE DELIVERED

1. (C) Due to the absence of CiO Personal Representative and
OSCE Task Force Director Daan Everts until August 29, PolOff
delivered ref A to OSCE Task Force Senior Policy Advisor
Geoffrey van Leeuwen. Van Leeuwen said the GoNL agrees that
positions on both the Transnistrian and Moldovan sides have
hardened in recent weeks. The GoNL is cognizant of the
short-time frame in which to address this issue prior to both
the December Ministerial and the end of the Dutch CiOship.
However, van Leeuwen opined that the Dutch are likely not yet
ready to appoint a high-level envoy. Daan Everts, Dutch OSCE
PermRep de Visser, and CiO Personal Representative to Moldova
Jacobovits met with Foreign Minister de Hoop Scheffer on
August 22 to review options that could encourage progress.
These included:

--Asking EU HiRep Solana to travel to Moldova to meet with
the parties, followed by trip to Moscow to pressure the
Russians. Van Leeuwen reports that the Dutch have spoken
with Solana's office, and they favor such a visit. This
visit would be in Solana's present position, not as a
high-level envoy.

--Inviting President Voronin to the Netherlands on October 11
for discussions surrounding the Netherlands-Moldova Euro 2004
soccer match. (Note: FM De Hoop Scheffer planned to attend
the April 2 match in Tiraspol, but declined after 14 top
Moldovan officials, including President Voronin, were
declared persona non grata by the Transnistrians. End Note.)

--Using FM de Hoop Scheffer's October 15 visit to Moldova for
Council of Europe business to also address OSCE issues.

--Appointing a High-level Envoy. Van Leeuwen noted that
Germany supports the appointment of a high-level envoy.



2. (C) The Dutch are hopeful that Moldova will be raised
during the Bush-Putin summit. Van Leeuwen stated that many
believe only Putin has the power to solve this frozen
conflict, and a weigh-in by President Bush could encourage
Putin to play a constructive role.
SOBEL