TRANSNISTRIA: RUSSIANS CONTINUE TO HOLD MOLDOVA

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 002594

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2016
TAGS: ETRD MARR PBTS PREL ML RS
SUBJECT: TRANSNISTRIA: RUSSIANS CONTINUE TO HOLD MOLDOVA
RESPONSIBLE FOR TRANSNISTRIAN BORDER SITUATION

REF: STATE 39764

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Kirk Augustine for reason 1
.4 (b, d).


1. (C) In the absence of Russian Envoy Valeriy
Nesterushkin, we delivered reftel demarche on the situation
in Transnistria on March 15 to MFA Second CIS Department
Deputy Director (Moldova Office Director) Nikolay Fomin.
Fomin rejected Transnistrian responsibility for blockading
itself, claiming that it was a "foreseeable result" of the
Moldovan-Ukrainian action. Fomin said that the GOR's main
concern was the impending human catastrophe that would take
place now that goods had stopped flowing into Transnistria
from Ukraine.


2. (C) Fomin regretted that Nesterushkin had remained silent
on this during the 5 2 negotiations. Claiming that the new
customs arrangement was agreed "without consulting" Russia,
he said Russia had "impolitely" not been included in the
February 1 talks between Moldova and Ukraine on grounds that
they concerned a customs arrangement between those two
sovereign states.


3. (C) Fomin stressed that the only way to solve the conflict
in Transnistria was through the multilateral political
process. He claimed that a Moldovan law adopted in July 2005
forbade the Moldovans from discussing with the Transnistrians
economic and trade issues such as the current customs
impasse. Fomin rejected the idea that Russia could or should
persuade Transnistria to take any steps with regard to
customs, stressing that as an intermediary, Russia "had to
avoid taking the part of one side against the other." He
said Russia will continue to work with both parties "without
any bias."
BURNS