CHISINAU ESTABLISHING SEVEN WORKING GROUPS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 001330 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2017 TAGS: PBTS PGOV EAID MD SUBJECT: CHISINAU ESTABLISHING SEVEN WORKING GROUPS ON TRANSNISTRIA CHISINAU 00001330 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador Michael D. Kirby for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: As a follow up to President Voronin's confidence-building outreach to Transnistria (TN),the Government of Moldova is establishing seven working groups to elaborate specific projects for normalizing relations. Transnistria's "foreign minister" has already indicated interest in roads, a bridge, and the railroads. The GOM suggestions for these areas are almost finished. GOM officials intend to include these infrastructure projects in Moldova's MCC Compact proposal. GOM officials will pass these suggestions to the Transnistrians and get their reaction. If all goes well, the next step should be a meeting between Sova and Litskai by November 10. End summary. GOM To Establish Seven Working Groups -------------- ¶2. (U) On October 24 Moldovan newspapers announced that as part of GOM confidence-building initiatives, the government would make concrete proposals to Tiraspol. To this end, seven working groups were established to be the focal points for elaborating these proposals. These working groups are: (1) Economy and Trade; (2) Development of Infrastructure; (3) Reestablishing the Functioning of Railroads; (4) Health and Social Questions; (5) Education and Science; (6) Demilitarization and Strengthening of Security; and (7) Humanitarian Assistance. ¶3. (C) In an October 29 meeting with Pol/Econ Chief, Deputy Minister for Reintegration Ion Stavila explained that Minister Sova and TN "Foreign Minister" Litskai discussed these issues when they met privately in Odessa. Litskai had shown definite interest in Voronin's proposals, and was particularly interested in the projects concerning roads and railroads. TN Wants Roads, Bridge and Railroad Projects -------------- ¶4. (C) In particular, Stavila noted, Litskai wanted improvements in two particular roads: Chisinau-Dubasari-Platonove Road (M21) that leads to the Kyiv-Odessa highway and the M14 Chisinau-Tiraspol-Pervomaisc highway which leads to Odessa. Pol/Econ Chief repeated a previous Embassy suggestion that such infrastructure work might be included in Moldova's MCC Compact proposal. Stavila said that the Ministry of Reintegration had discussed this with GOM officials responsible for MCC, and the GOM would include Transnistria infrastructure projects in the Compact proposal. ¶5. (C) In addition to the road project, Stavila said that Litskai also wanted to restore the normal functioning of the railway system. The Chisinau-Tiraspol-Odessa line is not running now. Trains on this line used an outdated diesel technology. The line needed to be modernized and electrified. A related issue would be the full restoration of Chisinau-Moscow service via Transnistria. ¶6. (C) Stavila said that the Transnistrian side wants to open the Gura Bicului Bridge across the Nistru north of Tiraspol. The bridge was repaired by the Europeans several years ago, but Transnistria had refused to open it. Traffic from Chisinau now transits a worse, slower road, bypassing the bridge. TN will open the bridge, but insists that Voronin and Smirnov meet to sign an agreement on opening the bridge and pledge that it will not be used for military goals. Stavila opined that this was a pretext for forcing a meeting between the two leaders, knowing full well that Voronin would refuse to meet Smirnov. ¶7. (C) According to Stavila, the Transnistrians are now waiting for the Government of Moldova to release its formal decree establishing these groups. Stavila said that within the coming days the GOM will issue the decree and formally send the list of groups to Litskai via the OSCE. Sova and Litskai have agreed to meet in Odessa by November 10. U.S. Could Help Sound Out Transnistrians -------------- ¶8. (C) Knowing that the Ambassador planned to meet with Litskai and Shevchuk in Tiraspol next week, Stavila asked if we could raise the list of working groups with Shevchuk, discuss the concrete infrastructure proposals, and find out his thoughts on this process. Chisinau officials want the Transnistrians to establish the same seven groups. The working groups on both sides of the Nistru together would develop the details of the specific projects in each area. CHISINAU 00001330 002.2 OF 002 Comment -------------- ¶9. (C) President Voronin's public proposals to engage Transnistria have triggered a process and gained some momentum. After a stagnant summer on the TN front and concerns that the Russian electoral season would freeze an already becalmed TN resolution process, we are observing unexpected movement on this issue. Chisinau and Tiraspol authorities are discussing pragmatic solutions to improving infrastructure. This activity comes just in time to include infrastructure projects in Transnistria in the GOM's compact proposal in a realistic way. ¶10. (C) Litskai has shown us that he can switch off his transmit mode and listen to new ideas. However, we should remember that the Litskai switch that engages his uncooperative self remains easily accessible both to him and to Smirnov. While the Moldovans are interested in engaging the TN authorities, their goal is to move forward to a political solution. They do not want to limit progress to the economic, trade or infrastructure realm. Sova made clear in Odessa last month that Moldova would not be satisfied solely with these measures for long as they wait for fruitful discussions on the political issues dividing the sides to begin. If the opening to Transnistria fails to yield progress on a political settlement, Voronin could well revert to a tougher line vis-a-vis Tiraspol. Voronin still wants a settlement of the Transnistria conflict by the time he leaves office in the Spring of 2009. KIRBY