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.

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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