Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CHISINAU1101
2008-11-07 14:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Chisinau
Cable title:  

COUNCIL OF EUROPE GROUP

Tags:  PREL PGOV EAID COE EU EUN MD 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5926
RR RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHCH #1101/01 3121421
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 071421Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7285
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 001101 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID COE EU EUN MD
SUBJECT: COUNCIL OF EUROPE GROUP
UNIMPRESSED WITH MOLDOVAN REFORMS

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 001101

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID COE EU EUN MD
SUBJECT: COUNCIL OF EUROPE GROUP
UNIMPRESSED WITH MOLDOVAN REFORMS

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


1. (C) Summary: In an October 29 meeting
Vladimir Ristovski, Special Representative
of the Secretary General of the Council of
Europe (COE) in Moldova, briefed the
Ambassador about the recent visit of a
Council of Europe delegation. Ristovski
stated that overall the visiting group
left with a very negative impression of
developments in Moldova. The visitors did
not believe that Moldova had made adequate
progress in the reform process. End
Summary.

Inadequate Level of Reform
--------------


2. (C) Ristovski explained that a recent
COE delegation had been dissatisfied with
the level of reform in Moldova. The
delegation included Claudia Luciani,
Director of the Directorate for Political
Advice and Cooperation, and Olena Petsun,
Advisor of the Directorate for Political
Advice and Cooperation. He pointed out
that the delegation had suffered an
unpleasant experience with the People's
Christian Democratic Party (PPCD). During
their meeting, a PPCD member accused the
European Union of conspiring with the
Russians. When asked whether a basis for
such accusations towards the EU existed,
Ristovski said of course not.


3. (C) The Council of Europe group had the
impression that Moldova had made
insufficient progress on reforms,
especially in the areas of human rights
and rule of law. Ristovski also noted
that Moldovan officials had not been able
to report on new progress in certain
areas, such as the penitentiary system.
For example, he said, no new cells were
planned for construction.


4. (C) The group had the impression that
the Party of Communists sought to
consolidate its authority along several
fronts. The visitors felt that the ruling
party did not truly intend to undertake
actual improvements in areas needing
reform. They had the impression that, in
meetings with Deputy Foreign Minister
Kistruga, she did not seem to know what
she was speaking about, and they thought
that she was covering for her superiors
without sufficient preparation.


5. (C) Overall, the situation in Moldova
did not impress the COE visitors. The COE
visitors believed that Moldovans had not
made enough improvements, although they
noted progress in areas such as anti-
corruption. The Council of Europe group
considered improvements such as this,
however, to be slight. Ristovski
emphasized that the Council of Europe was
ready to help, but believed that Moldova
was not ready to make real changes. He
also said that the Government of Moldova
was clearly equating the interests of the
state with those of the Party of
Communists.

Comment
--------------


6. (C) Members of the European community
seem to be divided into two schools of
thought regarding reforms in Moldova. The
first school believes that once a European
Union promise for future membership for
Moldova is extended, then reform will
follow. The second school expects reform
to come first and then membership may be
offered as a reward. Ristovski appears to
favor the first school of thought,
although the two members of the COE

CHISINAU 00001101 002 OF 002


delegation were of the latter school. We
believe that the COE delegationQs negative
assessment failed to take into account
many positive reforms which the Moldovans
have put into place including the
establishment of the Center for Combating
Trafficking in Persons (CCTIP) and
improvements in legislation regarding
anti-corruption. Regarding the COE
delegationQs observation on prisons in
Moldova, the Moldovan Ministry of Justice
announced the tender for construction of a
penitentiary institution of 1600 places of
detention in Chisinau. The tender was
scheduled to be examined on October 23.

KEIDERLING