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
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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
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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
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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
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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

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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