RUSSIA/MOLDOVA: PUTIN-VORONIN MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 003155 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2017 TAGS: PREL ETRD MARR MD RS SUBJECT: RUSSIA/MOLDOVA: PUTIN-VORONIN MEETING Classified By: PolMinCouns Alice G. Wells. Reason: 1.4 (b, d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Russian Ambassador at Large for Transnistria Nesterushkin June 26 gave us a brief readout of the June 22 Putin-Voronin meeting. The meeting focused on bilateral issues, making progress on wine and natural gas prices. Putin raised Russian concerns about new Moldovan controls on imports to Transnistria, and Nesterushkin used this to launch a criticism of Ukraine, the EU and Moldova; and to announce Transnistrian suspension of participation in the "5 plus 2" peace process. END SUMMARY ¶2. (C) Nesterushkin led off with Putin's concerns over new customs regulations governing imports to Transnistria. Nesterushkin used Putin's words to launch into criticism of a meeting called by Ukraine inviting the EU, Moldova and Transnistria -- but not Russia -- to Odessa June 20 to discuss the regulations. Nesterushkin showed us an outraged letter he had just received from Transnistrian negotiator Litskai, complaining that when the Transnistrians arrived in Odessa they found themselves barred from the meeting. Litskai announced that Transnistria will not to take part in 5 plus 2 peace negotiations until the regulations are repealed. Nesterushkin said he met June 25 with EU negotiator Kalman Mizsei, who assured him that "everything will be okay," a claim Nesterushkin viewed with incredulity. ¶3. (C) Returning to the Putin-Voronin meeting, Nesterushkin said that Putin ordered the return of high-quality Moldovan wines to the Russian market; now that the bans on agricultural products have been lifted, only a ban on lower quality wines remains. Putin and Voronin discussed energy and pipelines, with Putin promising a five-year transition to full market pricing of natural gas. The two agreed on wider exports of electricity from the generation plant on Transnistrian territory. They discussed Russian investment in Moldova, including in renewal of the irrigation system. They discussed CIS reform, and Putin assured Voronin that there is no contradiction between good Russian-Moldovan relations and Moldova's aspirations for European integration. ¶4. (C) Nesterushkin said Putin spent a long time discussing Kosovo with Voronin. Putin did not frame it as a prelude to recognition of Transnistria. But he stressed the need for dialogue between the two parties to the conflict. Nesterushkin said he doubted the two presidents would discuss anything serious "in the intervals between placing bets" at the upcoming horse races at Rostov-on-Don. Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) The Transnistrian moratorium on participating in the 5 plus 2 negotiations and Putin's stress on direct contacts between the two sides point to an unspoken Russian goal: the "de-internationalization" of the conflict. We are picking up hints that Russia wants to minimize the 5 plus 2 (in which the U.S., EU, Ukraine, and OSCE also participate),making it at most a rubber stamp for decisions reached in what amounts to a "1 plus 1 plus 1" format. In those talks, Russia would be the "1" in the middle, playing Moldova and Transnistria off to reach an agreement preserving Russian interests. These are military: preservation of a Russian military presence; political: Moldovan "neutrality" with strong limits on Romanian and Ukrainian influence; and economic: guarantees for Russian investments in Transnistria. BURNS