FOREIGN MINISTER STRATAN SUPPORTS US ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CHISINAU 001283

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2017
TAGS: OSCE PBTS PGOV PINR PREL MD
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER STRATAN SUPPORTS US ON
TRANSNISTRIA, CFE AND OSCE

REF: CHISINAU 1273

Classified By: Ambassador Michael D. Kirby under 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: EUR DAS David Kramer's October 19 meeting
with Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration
Andrei Stratan won willing support on U.S. positions
regarding Transnistria (TN),CFE and the OSCE. Stratan
expressed his appreciation for U.S. transparency on talks
with Russia and for our support of Moldova's EU
aspirations. Stratan wants to sign the border treaty with
Romania. He cited domestic problems hindering troop
increases in Iraq and an Article 98 signature. End summary.


2. (C) DAS Kramer expressed to Moldovan Foreign Minister
Andrei Stratan his cautious optimism that the Russians
might consider a three-part package proposal to solve
Transnistria and CFE (ref A); predicted a more active OSCE
with Finland in the chair; solicited and received support for
U.S. candidate Philip Remler proposed to replace Louis
O'Neill as OSCE chief in Moldova; noted that Ukraine will
continue to support Moldova on EUBAM and the Transnistria
issue; urged signing of the "95% there" border treaty with
Romania; pressed Moldova to advertise itself better; and
requested more troops for Iraq and Moldova's Article 98
signature. He also noted that President Voronin, whom he
had met earlier in the day, was decidedly less optimistic
about Putin's desire to solve the Transnistrian issue than
he had been earlier this year. Stratan interjected
occasional questions for clarification, appreciated U.S.
transparency on our negotiations with Russia, and agreed with
almost all our points, while expressing qualms about
Parliament's reaction to the troop request, and EU reactions
to an Article 98 signing. His longest statements
were complaints about Romania and the EU.

Solving CFE: 5 plus 2, Weapons Removal, and Civilian PKF
-------------- --------------


3. (C) DAS Kramer noted that last week's meetings in Moscow
were more positive and constructive than they were
described in the media. Stratan expressed his keen interest
in the three-part plan to avert Russia's
withdrawal from CFE on December 12, and bypass Russia's
intransigence on Istanbul commitments. The plan consists
of getting the Russians to commit to serious 5 plus 2 talks,
and thus prepare for progress on weapons destruction
(on site, joked Kramer, to solve Russian worries about women
and children blocking the railway tracks at
Colbasna),and replacement of peace keepers with an
international civilian force, to include Russians. Success
in these efforts could lead to demilitarization (which would
solve the tricky issue of command and control that would
come with an internationalized peacekeeping force) and a
Russian withdrawal.


4. (C) Stratan eagerly asked whether the Russians had agreed,
but accepted DAS Kramer's evaluation that they were
at least interested. Stratan appreciated even more DAS
Kramer's statement that the day's meetings with GOM
officials were part of USG efforts to brief Moldova and
solicit reactions. DAS Kramer noted that A/S Fried expected
to
meet Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak in Moscow
next week, and that he and Ambassador Kirby would attend
the OSCE conference in Odessa on October 23. DAS Kramer
stressed the Russians had been told that the U.S. would
consult
Moldova and other countries before meeting the Russians
again.

GOM OKs U.S. OSCE Candidate; Upcoming Finnish Chair
-------------- --------------


5. (C) On the OSCE, DAS Kramer noted that Ambassador Louis
O'Neill would announce that day his November 16 departure.
DAS Kramer suggested that O'Neill was too handicapped by his
inability to travel to Moscow to stay on as head. DAS
Kramer gave Stratan a brief CV of the proposed USG
replacement for O'Neill, Phillip Remler, and received
support from Stratan for his candidacy. Stratan agreed that
a U.S. presence was vital; DAS Kramer noted the
necessity of demonstrating to the Russians that they had not
pushed the Americans out of the OSCE chief-of-mission
position in Chisinau.


6. (C) DAS Kramer further noted that as present holders of
the chairman-in-office position, the Spanish had been rather
inactive and unhelpful. They had ignored O'Neill's request
to extend the tour of the present OSCE Chisinau deputy head

CHISINAU 00001283 002 OF 003


of mission, as a guarantee of continuity, and might drag
their heels on U.S. requests to have Remler participate in
the ministerials in Madrid next month. DAS Kramer noted that
the Finns, who succeed the Spanish on January 1, were
already active (their ambassador will visit Chisinau in early
December),and, given their historical experience
with the Russians, will be more effective.

Stratan Wants Romania Border Treaty, Complains about EU
-------------- --------------


7. (C) Romania remains a thorn in Stratan's side. He
complained that he used to solve problems with Romania by
getting on the telephone with his Romanian counterpart. Now,
he said, the Romanians play the EU card and raise
issues at EU fora. On the EU, he was more critical, noting
that the EU Cooperation Commission had rejected Moldovan
recommendations that commission hearings take place in
public, with civil society in attendance. He nodded sadly
when Ambassador Kirby pointed out that the U.S. had done more
to open the door to the EU than had the EU itself.
Further, he noted, the Commission had come to meetings
unprepared, with outdated documents, and had, for example,
ignored Moldovan proofs of improvements in its justice
system. Moldova, he concluded, will continue its reforms
with or without a new or extended EU cooperation agreement.
On the positive side, he said, Romania and
Moldova are 95% agreed on the wording of the border treaty,
with only a few issues remaining. DAS Kramer and
Ambassador Kirby strongly urged that Moldova sign the treaty,
even if the political treaty has to wait, to
maintain momentum, and to send a strong signal to the EU
regarding Moldova's seriousness.

Ukraine will Continue to Help on EUBAM and Transnistria
-------------- --------------


8. (C) Stratan welcomed DAS Kramer's prediction that an
Orange government would be formed in Ukraine, and that
Ukraine would continue to contribute to the EU Border
Assistance Mission and to a solution of the Transnistrian
conflict. DAS Kramer also noted that Ukraine needs to be
more serious in its dealings with RosUkrEnergo, which he
characterized as a corrupt, criminal organization. Likely PM
candidate Yulia Tymoshenko, he noted, had said the rights
things about the company, but now needed to take action to
protect Ukraine's sovereignty and independence. Bluntly, he
concluded that we want more competition with Gazprom, but "we
want RosUkrEnergo out of business," as Stratan nodded in
agreement.

Getting the Word Out: Op-eds and Voronin to Brussels
-------------- --------------


9. (C) Stratan responded positively, as he has in previous
meetings, to Moldova's need to present its case in an
op-ed, under President Voronin's signature, in the
international press, describing the justifications for
Moldova's EU aspirations and eventual membership. DAS Kramer
also noted that such efforts could help reduce the
suspicions, and accusations of a sell-out, that arise
whenever Voronin talks privately with Putin. Stratan
agreed, and noted that Voronin hoped to meet the European
Commission President and the head of the European
Parliament in Brussels on December 4-5, to make just that
case.

Iraq and Article 98
--------------


10. (C) DAS Kramer thanked Stratan for Moldova's
participation in Iraq, and noted the appropriateness of
Central Command's offer to pay for two Moldovan officials to
attend the Bahrain Coalition Conference at the end of
October. He repeated USG requests for greater participation
in Iraq, perhaps by adding security forces to
the present demining contingent. DAS Kramer also repeated
our long-standing request for Moldova's Article 98
signature. With some reluctance and seeming embarrassment,
Stratan nodded when DAS Kramer said that President Voronin,
at the day's first meeting, had raised Parliament's
reluctance on the issue. On Article 98, Stratan attempted
a joke about "inventing a new bicycle" to enable the country
both to keep its promises to the U.S. and remain in
compliance with EU rules.


11. (C) Comment: Visits to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and European Integration are always a positive
experience for USG officials. MFA officials are pro-Western,
enthusiastically cooperative (as far as

CHISINAU 00001283 003 OF 003


domestic law and politics allow),and deeply appreciative of
U.S. transparency and regular updates on our
negotiations with Russia on Transnistria. While Stratan was
not able to give a full commitment on Iraq and Article
98, we can be reasonably sure that Moldova will support our
plans and efforts to resolve the Transnistria conflict.
End Comment.
LINDEN