DAS MERKEL AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS TRANSNISTRIA, MCC,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 000416 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/UMB E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL PBTS MD SUBJECT: DAS MERKEL AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS TRANSNISTRIA, MCC, ROMANIA, AND EU WITH FM STRATAN Classified By: Ambassador Michael D. Kirby, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: On April 14, in a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Andrei Stratan, DAS David Merkel discussed possibilities for a Transnistrian settlement, and warned against locking in neutrality. He encouraged Moldova to make progress on MCC, Article 98, and border and political treaties with Romania. Ambassador Kirby briefed Stratan on his successful trip to Tiraspol on April 11 for discussions on MCC. Stratan thanked the U.S. for its continued support on these issues, and blamed Romania as the principal hindrance to forward motion. End summary. Moldova and Transnistria: Good Omens, Some Constraints -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Stratan conveyed his thanks for U.S. support on Transnistria and the EU. He stressed favorable harbingers of a Transnistrian settlement: a friendly government in Ukraine, whose FM is visiting April 13-14, and with which Moldova is discussing final rectification of its left-bank border; and a real Russian desire to solve the issue, mixed with concern over what instructions Smirnov would receive from Moscow. Stratan also noted Moldova's non-negotiable positions: neutrality in the Constitution, and Russian fulfillment of 1999 Istanbul commitments. He also signaled his willingness to let the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) negotiations (on expanding EUBAM's responsibilities to include migration issues) wait until after a Transnistrian settlement. Stratan stressed that the desire of some European countries to see the solution occur after March 2009 elections misses the point that the agreement is about people and not about any government that is or will be. Ambassador Briefs on Successful Trip to Tiraspol -------------- --- ¶3. (C) Ambassador Kirby noted a successful trip to Tiraspol on April 11 to discuss MCC and the possibility of Compact Program road-building. The Transnistrians were pleased with U.S. interest in the left-bank, but also a bit puzzled that Moldova included them in the plans. FM Stratan was even more pleased at the Ambassador's statement that the left bank was being included because it was a part of Moldova. Ambassador Kirby, noting his pleasure that Reintegration Minister Sova had briefed the Moldovan opposition on settlement talks, said that Supreme Soviet Speaker Shevchuk expressed his desire that Transnistrian "Foreign Minister" Litskai would similarly brief the left-bank legislature, which is now functioning as a quasi-opposition. Stratan Pillories Romania as Main Barrier -------------- ¶4. (C) In response to questions about Romania, FM Stratan noted the change of attitude in Bucharest after EU accession in 2007, Stratan said that, with Romania hiding behind its EU membership, Moldova is afraid to criticize Romania without offending the rest of the EU. Romania, he stated, is trying to lure Moldovan citizens with Romanian passports, telling Moldova to integrate with Romania (and ignore Transnistria),ignoring the 1947 treaty that drew east European borders, failing to respond to Moldova's wish to sign, and possibly planning to block a renewal of the EU-Moldova Action Plan (which he believed would be issued this month or in May). There are forces in Romania, he concluded, which are happy with an unsuccessful Moldova. Merkel Briefs on Neutrality, Settlement, EU, and Romania -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) DAS Merkel stated that Moldova's neutrality should be something for Moldovans, present and future, to decide, and not for others. Merkel noted that a Transnistrian settlement would create a clearer road to the EU, and promised to meet EU officials (and those in the Quad) and relay views on Moldova. He noted common U.S.-Moldovan CFE interests, and praised Moldova for qualifying for MCC, calling it an opportunity to make Moldova more attractive to investors. Final Points: Article 98, NATO, and GUAM -------------- ¶6. (C) DAS Merkel also urged Moldova to sign Article 98. Stratan replied that the Ministry of Justice was implementing Moldova's strategy of holding off a Rome Treaty signature until after signing an Article 98 agreement. (Note: the Ministry of Justice has delayed its response to us. The GOM fears an EU reaction against signing, and will wait until after the new EU-Moldova Action Plan is ratified. End note.) Ambassador Kirby reminded FM Stratan that EU-member Malta had just joined PFP, and that Moldova was further along than that; he emphasized that EU membership without being in NATO was very much a possibility. The Ambassador also encouraged Stratan to send clearer signals on Moldova's participation in GUAM, extracting a semi-promise from Stratan to try to revitalize Moldova's CHISINAU 00000416 002 OF 002 participation. ¶7. (C) Comment: Stratan was as cooperative and appreciative as always, but his dissatisfaction with Romania underscores Moldova's frustration with its western neighbor, and his perception that Romania is a bigger roadblock to Moldova's aspirations than is Russia. ¶8. (U) DAS Merkel has cleared this cable. Kirby