STRATAN GETTING COLD SHOULDER FROM BOTH NEIGHBORS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 001505 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/UMB E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2017 TAGS: PREL PBTS PGOV RO UP MD SUBJECT: STRATAN GETTING COLD SHOULDER FROM BOTH NEIGHBORS Classified By: Ambassador Michael D. Kirby for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In a December 20 meeting, Foreign Minister Stratan complained that his Romanian counterpart, Foreign Minister Cioroianu, would be in Chisinau for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, but had not requested a meeting with him. Stratan mentioned that Moldova also faces problems with its eastern neighbor, as Ukraine cut the flow of electricity. On a positive note, Stratan told the Ambassador that President Voronin has created a special working group to meet next week to resolve the Article 98 issue. End Summary. Another Diplomatic Misunderstanding with Romania -------------- --- ¶2. (C) Stratan expressed the desire to conclude a border treaty with Romania, but complained about getting the cold shoulder from his Romanian counterpart, Adrian Cioroianu. According to Stratan, on December 19 the Moldovan MFA received a diplomatic note from the Romanian Embassy informing them that Foreign Minister Cioroianu would pay a visit to Chisinau for the December 21 ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Romanian Embassy's new consular building. The Embassy had called to ask if Stratan would be available to attend the ceremony, but Stratan was offended that his counterpart had not requested a bilateral meeting. The Ambassador tried to find a diplomatic compromise, asking if Stratan might be available for the ceremony if Cioroianu first visited him at the MFA. Stratan expressed his desire to avoid a misunderstanding. The Ambassador promised to call U.S. Embassy Bucharest to see if they might be able to pass a message to the MFA there. Stratan noted that despite the diplomatic strains with Romania, President Voronin decided that Moldova will participate in the NATO Summit in Bucharest. Ukraine Freezing Out Moldova -------------- ¶3. (C) Stratan explained that Moldova is also having problems with its Eastern neighbor. Though there are ongoing discussions about electricity prices, Ukraine, Stratan said, had just cut off the flow of electricity to Moldova. (Comment: Other sources confirming the interruption of electricity delivery blamed the stoppage on technical difficulties with the power lines. End comment.) The GOM had tried unsuccessfully to call Tymoshenko to discuss the electricity supply problem. Stratan said that President Voronin had already called to congratulate the new Prime Minister, and commented that Tymoshenko has a very positive attitude towards Moldova. Nonetheless, Stratan noted that her new government was facing challenges and unpleasant surprises as it started its work. President to Convene Meeting on Article 98 -------------- ¶4. (C) For the third time in a week, the Ambassador raised the need for Moldova to conclude an Article 98 agreement with us before ratifying the Rome Statute, presenting the Foreign Minister with the same non-paper he earlier had given Prime Minister Tarlev and Parliamentary Speaker Lupu. Stratan responded that the GOM is now paying attention to our concerns and expressed his conviction that Article 98 will be resolved soon. Though the Rome Statue documents had been sent to the parliament for ratification, they will be put on hold, and, as the Ambassador had requested, no further action will be taken for now. On December 18 the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President discussing issues related to the Rome Statute and Article 98. Voronin has now ordered that a special working group be created to meet next week and resolve the Article 98 issue. Hoping for 5 plus 2 Progress Under Finnish Leadership -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) The Ambassador expressed USG interest in seeing progress on 5 plus 2 process, commenting how positive it would be if the Transnistria problem could be resolved before the 2009 elections. Stratan noted that the Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs would be visiting Moldova in January, and expressed confidence that Finnish leadership would accomplish more than the Spanish have done. Stratan said that it was important to keep the Transnistria discussions going in the 5 plus 2 context, and also noted the importance of keeping the EUBAM mission in place as long as the conflict exists. Comment: -------------- ¶6. (C) While Americans are dreaming of a white Christmas, it CHISINAU 00001505 002 OF 002 is turning into a cold Christmas for the Moldovans. Chisinau was already suffering from the lack of hot water, but now the Ukrainians have cut the flow of electricity to Moldova. In addition, Stratan feels the Romanian Foreign Minister has turned a diplomatic cold shoulder to his counterpart. Cioroianu's visit comes at a time when Moldo-Romanian relations are already strained following Moldova's expulsion last week of two Romanian diplomats. Though the minister's trip to Chisinau during this holiday season could have been used to further the diplomacy of reconciliation, instead it appears that the spiral of mutual mistrust is taking yet another turn for the worse. It appears to us that the GOM has done little to improve Moldo-Romanian relations and from time-to-time seems to go out of its way to irritate the GOR. At the same time the GOM does not perceive that Bucharest is taking the higher road in the dialogue. ¶7. (C) Given the state of relations between Bucharest and Chisinau, we need to be careful not to be seen to be taking sides in the spat. At the same time, it is in our interest that poisoned GOM-GOR relations do not have a negative impact on GOM-EU and GOM-NATO relations. (We should see if it is our interest to help the two sides to improve the relationship.) While almost all significant political actors insist that Moldova's desire to join the EU is unalterable, there are many within the ruling Communist Party who are unenthusiastic about making the changes needed for Moldova to join the EU. KIRBY