RECALL OF MOLDOVAN AMBASSADOR TO UN REFLECTS POLITICAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L CHISINAU 000211 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/UMB E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/29/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR UN MD SUBJECT: RECALL OF MOLDOVAN AMBASSADOR TO UN REFLECTS POLITICAL FIGHT WITHIN RULING PARTY Classified by: Ambassador Michael D. Kirby for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) Recall of Ambassador... -------------- ¶1. (U) On February 27, the Cabinet recalled Ambassador Alexei Tulbure, Moldova's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Though the ambassador was appointed only 18 months ago, Deputy Foreign Minister Kistruga, who attended the Cabinet meeting, told the press it was just a regular rotation, as Tulbure had already been overseas for seven years. (Tulbure had previously been Moldova's Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe.) A day later, an official government statement appeared in the press saying "Tulbure was recalled at the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration for violations committed in his capacity as Head of Diplomatic Mission, resulting in disciplinary action against him." ... Reflects Behind-the-scene POLITICAL Fight -------------- ¶2. (C) Comment: We presume that a POLITICAL power struggle within the ruling Communist Party lies behind the recall of Ambassador Tulbure. Tulbure has been a long-term opponent of Foreign Minister Stratan. He was rumored as a possible replacement for Stratan in 2006-2007, when the latter appeared close to dismissal. Stratan strongly dislikes Tulbure, who is part of the "young reformist group" within the Communist Party. In the summer of 2007, Stratan had tried to remove Tulbure through a presidential decree, which did not succeed because Tkaciuk, Lupu, Sova and others blocked it. Tulbure was known to ignore Stratan's instructions. ¶3. (C) Comment continued: Tulbure is an old friend of presidential adviser Mark Tkaciuk. As such, his POLITICAL star was promoted by the President's administration, and he earlier enjoyed Voronin's trust. Stratan, who is in open conflict with the influential Tkaciuk, joined the other faction within the Communist Party, the so-called "conservative wing," led by Deputy Prime-Minister Stepaniuc and head of the Communist faction within Parliament, Ostapciuc. Both conservative leaders support Stratan and oppose Tkaciuk and his team. We understand that RELATIONS between Stratan and Tkaciuk are so strained that the two have gone a couple of years without speaking to each other - requiring other government ministers to pass messages between the two. We assume that the conservative wing of the Party supported Stratan's request for Tulbure's dismissal, thus weakening one of the key allies of the President's influential advisor. Tulbure's dismissal is a sign that the conservative wing has won an intra-party victory on the eve of the upcoming (March 15) Party Congress. KIRBY