TRANSNISTRIA: RUSSIANS DENY "KOZAK-2"

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 001835 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017 TAGS: PREL PBTS MARR MD RS SUBJECT: TRANSNISTRIA: RUSSIANS DENY "KOZAK-2" REF: A) CHISINAU 433 AND PREVIOUS B) STATE 49729 C) MOSCOW 1579 Classified By: PolMilCouns Alice G. Wells. Reason: 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (C) We raised the alleged "Kozak-2" negotiations between Russia and Moldova (reftels) with Valeriy Nesterushkin, MFA Ambassador-at-Large for Transnistria (April 17); Viktor Sorokin, MFA 4th CIS Department Director (April 18); and Andrey Kuzin, Security Council (April 20). We mentioned articles by Vladimir Socor, Edward Lucas, etc., and that these appeared to be based on real conversations held by Voronin. ¶2. (C) Nesterushkin basically denied the stories, though using his usual sarcasm and periphrasis to avoid an explicit denial. He said the Socor article was the first he had heard of such a plan ("but I have plenty of old plans lying around in my desk, if you want me to present one"). ¶3. (C) The other two were more categorical. Sorokin said that the only document Russia has on the table is the draft Transit Protocol, designed to duplicate the exceptions granted Ukraine to Moldova's transit regime through Transnistria. Sorokin refused to speculate on the origins of reports of the "Kozak-2" plan. ¶4. (C) Kuzin flatly denied that there could be such a plan. He speculated that its existence had been floated by persons trying to exacerbate the distrust already prevailing between Moldova and Transnistria. He said that efforts towards a resolution would have to be slow and laborious, and Russia will not engage in such "explosively" radical departures. BURNS