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
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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

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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