AMBASSADOR PRODS CORRUPTION CZAR ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 001155

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: Declassify 11/27/18
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR MD
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRODS CORRUPTION CZAR ON
CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT BOARD FOR ANTI-CORRUPTION
CENTER

REFS: A. Chisinau 1100 B. Chisinau 1062

CHISINAU 00001155 001.2 OF 002


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


1. (C) Summary: In a November 21 meeting,
Ambassador Chaudhry pushed Deputy Prime Minister
Valentin Mejinschi to change the selection process
for the Civilian Monitoring Board (CMB) that was
created to monitor the Center for Combating
Economic Crimes and Corruption (CCECC). He also
updated Mejinschi on the GOM's TIP action plan.
End summary.


2. (C) Stressing the need for friendly frankness,
the Ambassador summarized CMB problems under two
headings: its manner of establishment and the
nature of its authority. The Ambassador noted
that the CMB's establishment by a GOM decision,
rather than by an act of Parliament, gave the
impression that it was not independent, lacked
transparency, and could be changed too easily. If
the CMB was perceived as weak, the Ambassador
continued, because of questions regarding its
legal status or the sufficiency of its operating
funds, it would not be able to do its job. The
Ambassador concluded by asking that Mejinschi do
all in his power to ensure that there would be no
opportunity for corruption in the CCECC.


3. (C) Mejinschi stressed his anti-corruption
expertise, citing his time as Director of the
CCECC from 2004 to 2006. (Note: On October 21,
he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister with the
anti-TIP and anti-corruption portfolios, after
spending seven months as Minister of Interior in
the Greceanii government. See ref B. End note.)
He stated that the CCECC was perceived as a
"monster" and cited his success in creating a
consortium of anti-corruption NGOs and raising
public confidence in the CCECC. Agreeing that the
success of the CMB was critical for Millennium
Challenge Corporation Threshold Country Plan,
Mejinschi noted that the CMB had already been
established when he was appointed Deputy Prime
Minister, and that it had not yet had an
opportunity to work.


4. (C) The Ambassador, again stressing the need
for increasing trust in the CMB, asked Mejinschi
to recommend that CMB members be appointed by an
outside, unbiased organization, rather than by the
Ministry of Justice. Mejinschi replied that he
would take the opportunity to inform the Prime
Minister regarding the U.S. recommendations at a
meeting later in the day.


5. (C) The Ambassador also repeated the TIP
demarche presented to PM Greceanii on November 5
(ref A, which provided the Tier 2 Action Plan).
Mejinschi noted that he had changed the leadership
of the Center for Combating Trafficking in Persons
(CCTIP) when he became Minister of Interior,
reorganized the CCTIP, and instituted strict
testing for CCTIP employees. He stressed that he
wanted government officials to pay attention not
only to the criminals involved, but also to
investigate officials implicated in trafficking
crimes. He also noted that he had greatly
increased the level of cooperation between the
CCTIP and local NGOs. (Note: Local anti-TIP NGOs
and the International Organization for Migration
confirm this claim, citing GOM assistance for
victims of trafficking, both overseas and upon
their return to Moldova. End note.)


6. (C) Comment: Mejinschi is young (born in
1967),and has spent his entire career in law
enforcement, starting as a cop on the beat in
Slobozia (now in Transnistria) in 1987. He is
fit-looking and friendly, and wears a neat crew
cut--along with manicured, polished nails. This
mixture of styles was reflected in his
presentation, which included a tough attitude
towards crime and corruption, and a strong
commitment to civil society participation in
reforms undertaken by the Government. We suspect
that he made a strong presentation to the PM that

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the CCECC's oversight board members be appointed
by an independent body. End comment.

Chaudhry