MOLDOVAN PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO RIGA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RIGA 000379 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2017 TAGS: PREL EAID EUN MD LG SUBJECT: MOLDOVAN PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO RIGA REF: RIGA 00358 Classified By: Charge D'Affaires Tamir G. Waser 1.4(d) ¶1. (C) Summary: On May 18, Charge met with Latvian MFA U/S for bilateral affairs Edgars Skuja and MFA staff to discuss the recent visit of Moldovan PM Tarlev and Deputy PM Osterlap to Latvia. Skuja stated the visit was highly successful and expressed appreciation for EUR DAS Kramer's recent meetings (reftel) on Moldova. Skuja then highlighted Moldovan frustrations with some EU states on issues such as a trade preference agreement, a visa facilitation agreement, and Latvian efforts to assist Moldova. Charge praised the GOL's efforts to use Latvia as a staging ground for Moldovan officials to deepen ties with the Baltic States and the broader EU. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Latvian U/S Skuja opened the meeting by observing that PM Tarlev's visit came off very well. Skuja expressed appreciation for EUR DAS David Kramer's visit (reftel) to Latvia, noting, "The Moldovans took this as strong gesture of support and approval." Skuja and his staff then provided a detailed breakdown of the issues that were discussed during the visit. Trade Preferences -------------- ¶3. (C) The Moldovans expressed frustration that the French, Portuguese, and Spanish are resisting a trade preference agreement between the EU and Moldova. In particular, these countries oppose the importation of Moldovan wine, as it would compete with their home-grown industries. Charge asked Skuja to keep us informed of developments in this area. Visa Facilitation Agreement -------------- ¶4. (C) Similar to trade preferences, the Moldovans expressed frustration with certain EU countries that oppose moving quickly on a visa facilitation agreement. According to Skuja, France, Belgium, Portugal, and the Netherlands have raised objections to the draft agreement concluded in April. He stated that these countries feel the process has gone "too far, too fast." Skuja then noted that the GOL would like to work with the Moldovans to organize meetings at the political director and ambassadorial level at which the Moldovans can lobby EU countries on these types of issues. Such meetings would target in particular officials from more skeptical EU countries such as France. Skuja added that in general Moldova wants closer contacts with France and Germany. Technical Cooperation Between Moldova and Latvia -------------- --- ¶5. (C) PM Tarlev was impressed by a GOL presentation on cooperation in the area of banking oversight. According to Skuja, Tarlev decided during this trip to pursue further collaboration with Latvia in this area. Both countries will pursue further cooperation at the expert level. The Latvian MFA plans to send experts to Chisinau in June, and the Moldovans plan to send officials to Latvia in August. Other Issues -------------- ¶6. (C) EUBAAM--Skuja stated several times that PM Tarlev likes the results of the EU border control assistance mission and wants to see this mission extended and broadened. Skuja said that participating nations would be meeting in the near future, but expressed skepticism that contributing states would want to take on any kind of executive law enforcement role. After all, the purpose of EUBAAM was to assist the Moldovans in carrying out this function, not do it for them. TRANSNISTRIA--Deputy Minister Osterlap raised some concerns on Transnistria. Specifically, he asserted that some Transnistrian banks are receiving cooperation from institutions within EU member states. One example was a Gazprom Bank in Transnistria that he claimed has gotten certificates from EU institutions and/or member states. Skuja admitted that the GOL lacked information on this issue and was seeking clarification and more information from the Moldovans. ADVISOR FROM LATVIA--PM Tarlev asked Latvia to consider providing him an advisor on EU integration issues to work directly in the PM's office. Skuja said that while many of the line ministries had such advisors from newer EU member states, Tarlev wanted one to look at the whole of government. Latvia is interested in the idea, but looking to see if they have someone with the right experience in their own accession process who would be a good fit for this role. RIGA 00000379 002 OF 002 WASER