MOLDOVAN ANTI-CORRUPTION OFFICIALS LEARN TO MEET THE PRESS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 000494

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB, EUR/ACE
JUSTICE FOR OPDAT CATHERINE NEWCOMBE

E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL
SUBJ: MOLDOVAN ANTI-CORRUPTION OFFICIALS LEARN TO MEET THE PRESS

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY


1. (SBU) Summary: A three-day assistance program in Chisinau
boosted the ability of Moldova's anti-corruption bureau, the Center
for Combating Economic Crime and Corruption (CCECC),to meet
Millennium Challenge Corporation Threshold Country Plan (MCC TCP)
goals of transparency, integrity and accountability. The program
offered by U.S. and Council of Europe (COE) officials trained bureau
leaders on the skills and tools needed to interact more openly with
the members of the media, who are taking on a key role in monitoring
government activities on behalf of Moldovan citizens under the TCP.
As a result of this program, the CCECC has planned an open house for
members of the media - a first ever for the CCECC, which has to date
been a very conservative and closed institution. End summary.

TCP and Facilitators Train Media and Corruption Center
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2. (SBU) Co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice OPDAT,
Millennium Challenge Corporation and the COE's MOLICO Project,
training sessions from April 22 to 25 introduced best practices in
terms of media relations and public outreach to CCECC officials, and
culminated in a conference with members of the Moldovan print and
television media aimed at strengthening CCECC relations with the
mass media. The training sessions were staffed by experts and
representatives from the Academy for Educational Development (AED),
the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX),the U.S.
Attorney's Office, District of Utah, Radio Free Europe, and the
Council of Europe. The training and conference were conducted under
the aegis of Moldova's TCP, Components Two and Five, which undertake
to improve transparency, integrity and trustworthiness at the CCECC
by encouraging activities to prevent corruption.

Background: The Anti-Corruption Center and the TCP
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3. (SBU) In September, 2006, Moldova signed a
Threshold Country Plan (TCP) with the Millennium
Challenge Corporation. The TCP recognizes that
corruption is Moldova's primary developmental challenge and ultimate
barrier to achieving economic growth and poverty reduction. The MCC
and Moldova pledged a joint effort to reduce corruption through
proactive policies, greater involvement of civil society and
system-wide reforms. The Government of Moldova (GOM) created the
CCECC in 2002 as a specialized anti-corruption bureau. This became
part of a national strategy to fight corruption. Under Component 5
of the TCP, DOJ OPDAT is assisting the GOM with institutional and
procedural reforms at the CCECC.

Encouraging Media-Center Synergy
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4. (SBU) Under the TCP, media should play an important role in
monitoring GOM activities, including activities at the CCECC.
Historically, relations between media and the CCECC were very
limited and often strained. The aim of the conference was to show
Center personnel new methods for communicating with media
representatives and to bring both groups to an improved
understanding of the functions, responsibilities, and methods that
could lead to better interaction.

Training and Objectives
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5. (SBU) CCECC officials attending included a Vice Director, section
chiefs, deputy chiefs of section and the Superior Inspector of the
Section for External Relations, Protocol, and Mass Media. Training
sessions defined the role of a public information officer; advanced
the mission and effectiveness of the CCECC; and, identified and
developed steps to strengthen relations between the CCECC and mass
media.


6. (SBU) Specifically, experts described the role of a public
information officer; ways of working with the media and projecting a
positive public image; conducting a press interview and news
conference; writing a press release; preparing a press packet; and
dealing with the media during crises. To learn interview
techniques, CCECC participants engaged in role-playing that included
on-camera interviews and
individual critique.

Media-Center Interaction
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7. (SBU) At the conference, CCECC personnel and twenty journalists
participated in panel discussions and open questions relating to the
barriers between the CCECC and media, while recognizing the

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symbiotic relationship between the CCECC and the media.
Participants discussed how the media and the CCECC might work
together to inform and educate the public, and concrete steps to
improve relations between the media and the CCECC. Looking ahead,
the CCECC announced a future open house for media representatives at
the CCECC. Several media representatives offered an opportunity for
the CCECC to write articles to be published in an unedited format.


8. (SBU) Comment: Both the training program and conference were a
success. While there is much that remains to be done, many
participants acknowledged that both sides had demonstrated tangible
changes in attitude and approach. These important steps forward
have occurred against a backdrop of limited transparency and minimal
progress in MCC TCP efforts, under Components 2 and 5, during the
past year. We hope that the events of April 22 through 25, combined
with the recent appointment of a reform-friendly, technocratic Prime
Minister, foreshadow an increase in openness and progress in media
and governmental relations.

Keiderling