Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CHISINAU1406
2007-11-29 14:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Chisinau
Cable title:  

SEEKING TO REGAIN MOMENTUM ON TRANSNISTRIA

Tags:  PREL PBTS OSCE PGOV MD 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0005
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHCH #1406/01 3331456
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 291456Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5963
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L CHISINAU 001406 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2017
TAGS: PREL PBTS OSCE PGOV MD
SUBJECT: SEEKING TO REGAIN MOMENTUM ON TRANSNISTRIA


Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Kelly Keiderling for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L CHISINAU 001406

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2017
TAGS: PREL PBTS OSCE PGOV MD
SUBJECT: SEEKING TO REGAIN MOMENTUM ON TRANSNISTRIA


Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Kelly Keiderling for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: In a November 27 meeting on the eve of his
departure for the OSCE Ministerial in Madrid, Minister of
Reintegration Sova was angry that the Spanish had given
Litskai a visa and threatened a GOM walkout. Ambassador
Kirby counseled a more measured diplomatic approach that
would allow Moldova to take the moral high ground. Minister
Sova said that a revised text of the Transnistria
vehicle-registration decree had been prepared, removing the
terms that were most objectionable to the Transnistrians.
End Summary.

Diplomatic Approach Better than Anger
--------------


2. (C) With some indignation Minister Sova informed
Ambassador Kirby that Transnistrian "Foreign Minister"
Litskai was already in Madrid. Sova expressed his
displeasure that the Spanish had given Litskai a visa that
would enable him to attend the OSCE Ministerial. Sova
threatened that the Moldovan delegation would make a huge
scandal in response and walk out. The Ambassador counseled
instead a more measured diplomatic approach and suggested
allowing others to do the complaining.


3. (C) Reminding Sova that the Moldovans had taken many
positive steps lately to build confidence, the Ambassador
advised Chisinau to appear conciliatory and eager for a
resolution. Let the other side be seen as the problem. An
inflexible Chisinau would only serve the interests of hawks
in Transnistria and Moscow.

Next Steps for 5 plus 2
--------------


4. (C) The Ambassador described his recent discussions with
Ukrainian Ambassador Pirozhkov (November 26). The two
Ambassadors had agreed that an informal 5 plus 2 get-together
in Ukraine in January would be good. An informal round would
not require press releases or formal statements.


5. (C) The Ambassador suggested that Sova seek out the Finns
during the OSCE Ministerial and propose an informal 5 plus 2
round in January. Such a proposal would demonstrate a desire
for progress, allowing Chisinau to take the moral high ground.

GOM to Revise License-plate Decree
--------------


6. (C) Minister Sova said that the relevant ministries had
met and agreed upon a revised decree on license plates. The
new version removed some of the points most objectionable to
the Transnistrian side. Sova said that he was also
consulting with the EU and the Ukrainians. While the first
offending draft had not been signed by the Ministry of
Reintegration, this revision would be signed by Sova, in
addition to the Ministers of Information Development,
Internal Affairs, Finance, Economy and Trade, and Justice.
The text still has to be approved by Parliament.


7. (C) The revised draft removed the prohibition on
Transnistrian-registered vehicles from traveling outside of
Moldova and from circulating within right-bank Moldova. The
new draft stipulated that vehicles imported into Moldova
before September 1, 2007 (including those over ten years old)
could be registered without payment of excise taxes or
customs duties. (Note: Currently, vehicles older than 10
years old cannot be imported into Moldova. End note.) The
new draft required owners of vehicles that were imported into
Moldova outside of the current customs framework to register
them with the Moldovan Government within a year after the law
goes into effect.

Comment
--------------


8. (C) The revised draft law will allow Transnistrians to
register their cars for free. The phrase "vehicles imported
outside of the customs framework" does not specifically name
vehicles with Transnistrian license plates. It therefore
creates - perhaps inadvertently - a window of opportunity for
Moldovans to import vehicles seven to ten years old into
Transnistria and then register them in Chisinau at lower
excise tax rates. By revising the license-plate decree the
GOM will take a positive step towards undoing the damage done
to recent confidence-building momentum.


9. (C) Chisinau can seize the moral high ground and regain
some of the confidence-building momentum lost with the
license-plate decree. Though the Spanish had hoped to finish
their presidency with a grand diplomatic flourish on Moldova,
their gaffe in granting Litskai a visa without European
consultations provided just one more proof of their
ineffective approach. We are hoping that the Finnish
presidency will bring new momentum to the 5 plus 2 process.
KIRBY