Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CHISINAU1100
2008-11-07 14:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Chisinau
Cable title:  

PRIME MINISTER GRECEANII POSITIVE ON TIP

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM KTIP AMGT MD 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5924
RR RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHCH #1100/01 3121420
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 071420Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7283
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHLMC/MCC WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 001100 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/UMB, G/TIP, DRL/AE, OBO

E.O. 12958: Declassify 11/05/18
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KTIP AMGT MD
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER GRECEANII POSITIVE ON TIP
AND NEC, WORRIED ABOUT MCC

REFS: A. State 113656 B. Chisinau 1062 C. 10/22
Matt Flannigan Email to Post

CHISINAU 00001100 001.2 OF 002


Classified by Ambassador Asif J. Chaudhry under
1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 001100

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/UMB, G/TIP, DRL/AE, OBO

E.O. 12958: Declassify 11/05/18
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KTIP AMGT MD
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER GRECEANII POSITIVE ON TIP
AND NEC, WORRIED ABOUT MCC

REFS: A. State 113656 B. Chisinau 1062 C. 10/22
Matt Flannigan Email to Post

CHISINAU 00001100 001.2 OF 002


Classified by Ambassador Asif J. Chaudhry under
1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: In a November 6 meeting,
Ambassador Chaudhry explained the next steps on
Trafficking in Persons (TIP) to Prime Minister
Greceanii, who reacted positively and described
changes in high-level GOM responsibilities for
TIP. The PM was concerned that the MCC report
card was a harbinger of worse news to come, and
questioned the "in-the-red" ratings. She agreed
to assist with the New Embassy Compound (NEC) and
with possible traffic-diversion plans to improve
Embassy security. End summary.

Positive Response to TIP Demarche and Action Plan
-------------- --------------


2. (C) Responding to the TIP Action Plan demarche
(ref A),the Prime Minister agreed that the
lifting of Moldova's TIP status from Tier 3 to
Tier 2 Watchlist was not a signal that problems
were ended. She noted that former Interior
Minister Valentin Mejinschi, now a Deputy PM, had
assumed overall responsibility for Molova's anti-
TIP (and anti-corruption) efforts (ref B). Other
ministers with social responsibilities, she said,
would contribute to improving the prevention and
protection aspects of the program. She promised
that she would personally monitor all efforts to
ensure a successful GOM response to the anti-TIP
Action Plan.

Worries about Low Scores on MCC Report Card
--------------


3. (C) Greceanii quickly moved past the high
scores in the Economic Freedom sector of the
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) report card
(ref C),and expressed concern that in-the-red
scores on Government Effectiveness and Primary
Education were harbingers of worse news to come
with the visit of Ambassador Danilovich.
(Ambassador Chaudhry strongly reassured her that
this was not the case.) She also argued against
the low ratings, saying that the effectiveness of
government was a measure of public perceptions,
which had recently gone negative as the GOM
instituted tough reforms. While she appreciated
the rise of the Primary Education indicator from
the 11th to the 37th percentile, she also noted
that the rating is low because of strict UNESCO
requirements, particularly the standard that 10
percent of the state budget go to education. She
also cited schools built for 1,300 students now
catering to only 300 as lowering budgetary
efficiency, and the difficulty of providing buses
and good roads to transport children safely to
school.

PM's Continued Concerns about Compact Signing
--------------


4. (C) The Prime Minister repeated her concern
that the signing of the MCC Compact would be
delayed until September 2009. (Note: She was in
charge of GOM MCC negotiations as Minister of
Finance, and kept the portfolio as Prime Minister.
She has a justified interest in seeing the signing
completed on her watch. End note.) The
Ambassador pointed out that feasibility studies,
which will begin soon, are like Phase One of MCC
implementation. He also expressed his personal
commitment to timely implementation.

Cooperation Promised on NEC
--------------


5. (C) The Ambassador described the Embassy's
security needs and negotiations regarding the
configuration of and access routes into a plot of
land for the NEC. The Prime Minister stated that
she would direct the responsible official (Deputy
PM and Minister of Economy and Trade Dodon) to
contact the Ambassador by Monday. She also
declared her willingness to assist with a limited

CHISINAU 00001100 002.2 OF 002


traffic diversion around the street in front of
the Embassy, but noted that the plan would have to
be implemented by the Chisinau municipal
government.

Comment: Helpful as Always, Worried about MCC
-------------- -


6. (C) The PM was confident about TIP, and her
usual helpful self regarding the NEC. She was
visibly concerned about low MCC scores, to the
point of brushing aside the high scores, and about
a delayed Compact signing. Given her years of
work on the issue and consistent helpfulness to us
on this and numerous other issues, Post recommends
that every effort be made in Washington to effect
an expedited signing.

Chaudhry