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
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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repealed.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
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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