US AMBASSADORQS INITIAL MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 001085

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: DECL 10/30/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR PBTS EU MD
SUBJECT: US AMBASSADORQS INITIAL MEETING WITH
MINISTER OF DEFENSE

CHISINAU 00001085 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Ambassador Asif J. Chaudhry for
reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (U) Summary: In an October 30 meeting,
Ambassador Chaudhry and Minister of Defense Vitalie
Vrabie discussed Moldova's peacekeeping activities,
the signing of an MCC compact agreement, U.S. and
Moldovan central government security engagement with
Transnistria, and the purchase of Ministry of
Defense land for a new embassy compound. End
Summary.


2. (C) In an October 30 meeting, Minister of
Defense Vrabie acknowledged the United States'
contributions to regional security and anti-
terrorism, as well as MoldovaQs own responsibility
in these areas. Minister Vrabie wanted to continue
good relations with the United States and
appreciated the positive image for Moldova and
professional contacts with the U.S. military
provided by Moldova's deployments to Iraq. Vrabie
emphasized the Moldovan governmentQs support for the
deployment to Iraq by its allocation of national
funds to pay for the deployment. He added that the
next cabinet session will analyze the costs and
benefits associated with the deployments. Vrabie
emphasized that the Ministry of Defense was counting
on U.S. reimbursement for previous deployments, as
Deputy Secretary of Defense Debra Cagan had
mentioned in October 2007, to increase cooperation
and capabilities of Moldovan Armed Forces to
participate in future international peacekeeping
operations. He asked that, prior to future
reimbursement, the U.S. specify that the money had
to be designated for defense to avoid Moldovan
misdirection of the money.


3. (C) The Ambassador noted that, in addition to
other U.S. initiatives that brought together
Transnistrians and other Moldovans, the Embassy was
considering engaging non-uniformed Transnistrian
officials who worked in the security realm with
limited-scope security cooperation events to
encourage low-level contact and discussion.
Minister Vrabie accepted the proposal and was
interested in working together with the Embassy on
this project.


4. (C) In regards to a future MCC compact,
Minister Vrabie reported that sources in civil
society had commented that the USG would not
disburse MCC funds prior to the spring 2009
elections. Vrabie assured the Ambassador that the
Moldovan government was doing all it could in a
methodical manner to conduct the elections in a
democratic manner. The Ambassador told Vrabie that
a decision on the MCC compact was not tied to the
Moldovan elections. Ambassador Chaudhry stressed
that MCC Phase 1 implementation would begin in
November 2008 with a public visit by MCC CEO
Ambassador Danilovich. Ambassador Chaudhry
characterized the MCC compact as a landmark event in
the bilateral relationship.


5. (C) Ambassador Chaudhry asked Minister Vrabie
about President VoroninQs recent proposals for both
sides of the Dniester to "demilitarize." Vrabie
explained that Moldova was sitting on unmanageable
stores of out-dated equipment and ammunition.
President VoroninQs proposal was meant not only to
reduce the amount of antiquated equipment on both
sides and thus reduce military tensions, but also to
eliminate the Colbasna ammunition stockpile and to
reduce Russian leverage. Vrabie added that
Russian, Armenian, Azeri, and Belarussian commercial
firms had approached Moldova to purchase much of the
old arms and ammunition. Moldova preferred to
destroy them with OSCE help and gain a positive
reputation for not releasing its arms and ammunition
into the global arms market. The Minister, said
Transnistrian officials had not had an opportunity,
to examine officially President Vononin's
demilitarization proposal.


6. (C) Minister Vrabie assessed right- and left-
bank military forces and capabilities as
approximately equal, but added that it was difficult
to differentiate between Russian and Transnistrian

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military and paramilitary forces. He added that
such force parity was unexplainable when Moldova had
a population of three million and Transnistria had
only five hundred thousand. Vrabie was certain that
Transnistria's military funding came from "other
sources," implying Russia.


7. (U) Ambassador Chaudhry inquired about the
year-long USG pursuit to purchase MoD property for a
new embassy compound. Minister Vrabie responded
that the government had just approved the
privatization and sale through auction of the
property in question. However, GOM would be willing
to sell this property directly to the USG. Vrabie
promised to convey the USG interest to Deputy Prime
Minister Igor Dodon, who now had action on the sale,
and urged the Ambassador to address Dodon directly.


8. (C) Comment: Minister Vrabie seemed to enjoy
his meeting with the Ambassador and talked openly
and frankly. Financial issues weigh heavily on
Vrabie's mind and are a frequent topic of discussion
with USG interlocutors. The majority of the
ministry's budget is allocated to salaries and
pensions, with the paltry remainder sorely needed
for modernization and supporting Moldova's
peacekeeping contributions. The USG reimbursement
for prior Iraqi deployments will greatly contribute
to sustaining Moldovan governmental support for
military cooperation with the United States and
military peacekeeping capabilities and potential.

CHAUDHRY