Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CHISINAU1477
2007-12-14 13:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Chisinau
Cable title:  

REFUSED ENTRY INTO TRANSNISTRIA

Tags:  PREL PBTS PGOV MD 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2143
RR RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHCH #1477 3481339
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 141339Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6026
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L CHISINAU 001477 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2017
TAGS: PREL PBTS PGOV MD
SUBJECT: REFUSED ENTRY INTO TRANSNISTRIA

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L CHISINAU 001477

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2017
TAGS: PREL PBTS PGOV MD
SUBJECT: REFUSED ENTRY INTO TRANSNISTRIA

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


1. (U) On December 14 the Ambassador set out for Tiraspol,
accompanied by MCC Director for Moldova Chris Williams,
Pol/Econ Section Chief Daria Fane, Interpreter Vlad Kulminsky
and a security follow car. At the Transnistrian border
checkpoint the delegation was informed that the Ambassador
could continue with his driver, but the others could not
enter Transnistria The Ambassador always travels with an
interpreter. A series of phone calls ensued to TN Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and Parliament trying to fix the
situation. The story emerged that "President" Smirnov had
given a personal order to permit the Ambassador but no one
else. Though our Parliamentary interlocutors tried several
approaches to remedy the problem, they eventually
acknowledged being powerless to turn this decree around.


2. (C) Comment: When we first informed the TN authorities of
the Ambassador's plans, we had scheduled only one meeting --
a presentation to the Obnovlenie Party Youth Wing. We had
originally tried to arrange meetings with both Litskai and
Shevchuk, but both were in Moscow. On December 13, we added
two additional meetings to the schedule -- a meeting with
Parliamentary Speaker Shevchuk's staffers who would hear a
presentation by MCC Director for Moldova Chris Williams about
the possibilities for including Transnistrian projects in the
Moldovan MCC Compact Program as well as with Chairman of the
Sheriff Company Ilya Kazmaly. These changes could have
provided the TN authorities a pretext to keep out of
Transnistria those accompanying the Ambassador.


3. (C) Comment continued: Clearly, a number of people within
the Transnistrian leadership are uncomfortable with the
growing presence of U.S. Embassy, government and contractor
personnel in Transnistria for business. Recent rumors in
Chisinau are that "President" Smirnov is ill with cancer and
will resign in January. Rumors are that Shevchuk will
succeed him. Given that the Ambassador's three meetings were
to have been with Shevchuk-associated people and groups,
Smirnov could have been sending a signal that he is still the
man. It is also possible that following the Ambassador's
successful presentation to the radical Proryv youth, Smirnov
fears the ideological impact on the youth of the American
Ambassador's message.


4. (C) Comment continued: Post will maintain its policy of
active engagement in Transnistria. We intend to work with
Litskai to work out a mechanism so that this type of mishap
is not repeated.
KIRBY