Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MOSCOW5898
2007-12-20 15:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:  

RUSSIA-MOLDOVA RELATIONS: BACK ON TRACK?

Tags:  PREL PGOV ECON MD RS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0020
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMO #5898 3541500
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 201500Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5962
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 005898 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON MD RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA-MOLDOVA RELATIONS: BACK ON TRACK?

REF: MOSCOW 4828

Classified By: Political M/C Alice G. Wells.
Reasons 1.4 (B/D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 005898

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON MD RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA-MOLDOVA RELATIONS: BACK ON TRACK?

REF: MOSCOW 4828

Classified By: Political M/C Alice G. Wells.
Reasons 1.4 (B/D).


1. (C) Summary. While evaluating Russia-Moldova relations
without the Transnistria conflict is difficult, there are a
few signs that the GOR is continuing its efforts to "mend"
the bilateral relationship through economic and other means.
The MFA told us that Russia is hopeful that frequent
high-level meetings and regularized Intergovernmental
Commission sessions could promote a better bilateral
relationship. On Transnistria, GOR official insisted that
without the direct contact between Moldovan President Voronin
and Transnistrian leader Smirnov, the conflict will remain
frozen. The MFA expressed concern over deteriorating
Moldovan-Romanian relations. End summary.

Continued Progress in Bilateral Relations
--------------


2. (C) MFA Second CIS Department Director Viktor Sorokin
during a December 18 meeting maintained that notwithstanding
the situation in Transnistria, the GOR is trying to improve
the bilateral relationship with Moldova on a pragmatic basis
(reftel). Putin and Voronin already met four times this year
while another round of economic talks through the
Intergovernmental Commission just concluded in Moscow.
Although Sorokin told us that President Voronin is scheduled
to visit Moscow in January, local press reported that Voronin
will travel to Moscow December 21-22 to discuss customs
regulations with a few other CIS leaders, including
Nazarbayev and Lukashenko. Some press reports also hinted
that a Putin-Voronin meeting was scheduled in advance to
discuss Kosovo implications on the Transnistria conflict.

3, (C) Sorokin positively characterized negotiations on
Russia's ban on Moldovan wine, noting that besides the 17
Moldovan wineries which have begun bringing Moldovan wines to
Russia, many more companies are already undergoing "quality
inspection" for import. He said that the GOR hopes to expand
bilateral trade beyond the current Russian imports of wine,
fruits, dairy products and meat, and exports of oil and gas.
Sorokin pointed out that the humanitarian aid of grains and
fuel during the 2007 summer drought in Moldova, which the GOR
dispatched at the request of the Moldovan government, helped
warm the relationship.

Transnistria Still Frozen
--------------


4. (C) Sorokin insisted that as long as there is no direct
contact between Voronin and Smirnov, aimed at resolving the
conflict, Transnistria will remain frozen. All other
"players" could only "help" but not "resolve," he added.
Sorokin said that the GOR is frustrated with the attitude of
both parties who "wait for others to solve the problem for
them." He regretted that the Kozak document did not go
forward and stressed that since then, no positive movement
has happened. Separately, Deputy Director of the CIS
Institute Vladimir Zarikhin, who advises the Duma
International Relations Committee, claimed that Transnistria
is "artificially" frozen. Unlike other regional conflicts,
Transnistria has no component of ethnic, religious difference
and IDPs, while privatization happened after the break-up,
lending itself more easily to the resolution. Zarikhin
warned that the GOR will apply Kosovo as a "model" for
Transnistria.

Moldova-Romania Relations
--------------


5. (C) Sorokin expressed concern with the deteriorating
relationship between Moldova and Romania. He criticized the
Romanian government for treating Moldova like a younger
brother -- an "unhelpful" gesture. Sorokin said that the
relationship is "not simple" and needs to be tended
carefully.
BURNS