TRANSNISTRIAN PARLIAMENT PASSES BILL TO FACILITATE

UNCLAS CHISINAU 001266

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB, DRL/AE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PBTS PGOV PHUM MD
SUBJECT: TRANSNISTRIAN PARLIAMENT PASSES BILL TO FACILITATE
DIPLOMATIC TRAVEL

Sensitive but Unclassified. Please Protect Accordingly.


1. (SBU) Summary: The Transnistrian Supreme Soviet passed a bill on
December 19, 2008, providing for a simplified travel regime for
foreign diplomats. According to the new law, diplomats accredited
in Chisinau would be able to travel to Transnistria without prior
notification or coordination with Tiraspol authorities. It is
likely that Smirnov will veto the bill, in which case the "Supreme
Soviet" should have enough votes to override the veto. Even if the
law passes, it remains to be seen whether or not the Transnistria
border authorities will respect their own entity's legal system.
End Summary.

Free Movement to and Within Transnistria in Future
-------------- --------------


2. (SBU) On December 19, 2008 the Transnistrian Supreme Soviet
passed in its second and final reading a bill establishing a new
travel regime for individuals with diplomatic and consular immunity.
The newly adopted bill provides for free, unimpeded entry and/or
transit for diplomats and their family members without prior notice
for either official or personal travel. This bill also provides for
free movement within Transnistria, except to areas which are
considered "closed" and require special permits to be accessed. The
TN "Foreign Ministry" was given the authority to deny access to
diplomats who "openly called for forceful change of the
constitutional order or for other extremist activity against the
state".

Diplomats Are Often Turned Away Under Current Regime
-------------- --------------


3. (SBU) Currently foreign diplomats accredited in Chisinau (except
for Russian and Ukrainian diplomats, and OSCE Mission staff) wishing
to visit Transnistria for either business or personal purpose, have
to undergo a complex process of coordinating of their trip with the
Transnistrian "Foreign Ministry" or risk being turned away at the
checkposts. Either through poor coordination between various
agencies in Tiraspol, or as a result of an active intention declared
by hardliners, diplomats are frequently turned away at the
checkpoint. Access or denial is an unpredictable affair, and each
trip involves a risk of wasted time for the journey and cancelled
appointments, every time travel is undertaken.

Comment:
--------------


4. (SBU) This law will still have to be promulgated by "President"
Smirnov, before it would come into force. However, it is quite
likely that Smirnov may impose his veto by refusing to sign this
bill. When this draft bill was examined in its first reading, the
Executive Branch indicated its opposition to it. The current
problematic travel regime is regulated by Smirnov's decree and
serves to support Transnistria's self-isolationism as favored by the
hard-liners. The bill was personally introduced by Parliamentary
Speaker Shevchuk in an effort to facilitate greater contact with the
outside world. However, even if the bill passes, it remains to be
seen whether the "Border Guards," who are controlled by the
hard-liners, will actually implement the new law.