IRELAND'S RESPONSE TO MOLDOVA/TRANSNISTRIA DEMARCHE

UNCLAS DUBLIN 001199 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PBTS SUBJECT: IRELAND'S RESPONSE TO MOLDOVA/TRANSNISTRIA DEMARCHE REF: A. STATE 169792 ¶B. AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 1975 ¶1. On August 11, Post delivered ref A's requested demarche to Jane Connelly, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Third Secretary for Eastern Europe (who noted that more senior SIPDIS officers were on leave). Connelly said that Ireland shared EU concerns about rising tensions in Moldova/Transnistria and supported the EU's aim to involve the OSCE in a resolution process. She added that the EU concurred with the USG's position on the importance of transparency in the Russian Government's efforts to engage Moldovan and Transnistrian officials. ¶2. Consistent with ref B, Connelly mentioned that an EU delegation departed for the region on August 9 and was scheduled to meet that evening in Chisinau with Heads of EU Member States' Missions and the representative of the OSCE. On August 10, the delegation was scheduled to consult with Moldovan and Transnistrian authorities. On August 11, the delegation was due to travel to Kiev to meet with Ukrainian authorities. Donnelly expected that a report on the trip's outcome would be issued within the EU on August 12. ¶3. Connelly added that the EU would shortly finalize its visa ban on Transnistrian officials involved in Moldovan-language school closures. The summer leave season in Brussels had delayed the process, however. KENNY