PRIME MINISTER GRECEANII POSITIVE ON TIP

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