GOM CONSIDERING EXPELLING IRI AND NDI

C O N F I D E N T I A L CHISINAU 000731

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/08/2018
TAGS: PGOV KDEM MD
SUBJECT: GOM CONSIDERING EXPELLING IRI AND NDI

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Rudolf V. Perina
for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)

REF: Chisinau 730


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Government of Moldova
(GOM)is planning to ask IRI and NDI to leave the
country. The decision was taken at a
Presidential meeting July 8. Deputy Foreign
Minister Ostalep called in Embassy rep and
suggested that President Voronin might change his
mind if warned directly of the dire consequences
to the bilateral relationship of taking such a
step. End Summary.

MFA Asks How the USG Would Respond
--------------


2. (C) Deputy Foreign Minister Ostalep convened
Pol/Econ Chief on July 9 to float a trial
balloon, asking what the USG reaction would be if
the GOM were to ask IRI and NDI to leave.
Ostalep said that a decision to move in this
direction had been taken the previous day in a
meeting with President Voronin.


3. (C) Pol/Econ Chief responded that such a step
would do irreparable damage to the bilateral
relationship, destroying Moldova's image of a
country moving towards European integration.
Kicking out two well-respected American
organizations would put Voronin in a class with
Lukashenko and Karimov in American eyes.
Pol/Econ Chief said it was too early to predict
exactly what measures would be taken, but
mentioned that Washington would consider all
options in its response, including withdrawing
assistance (including the MCC program). If
Moldova proceeded, she continued, the GOM would
regret the move.

MFA Suggests Immediate Meeting with President
--------------


4. (C) Ostalep said that he would immediately
prepare a report for President Voronin warning
that such a step would have dire consequences and
advising against it. He complained that Voronin
was listening to advisors who had not even
considered the negative USG reaction. Ostalep
also suggested that Charge Perina should
immediately seek a meeting with President Voronin
to warn him about the consequences if GOM goes
ahead with asking IRI and NDI to leave. Ostalep
expressed some confidence that it might still be
possible to turn the decision around if the
Charge were to immediately engage with the
president.


5. (C) Following the meeting with Ostalep,
Pol/Econ Chief received a call from NDI asking
for a meeting. They had just heard from Social
Democratic Party Leader Braghis that the GOM
wants to expel the organization. According to
Braghis, the decision would be taken by the
Parliament. He had said the action could come as
early as Friday. However, Deputy Foreign
Minister Ostalep had suggested to Embassy that
the procedure would involve a decree so it is not
clear yet how the GOM would proceed, if they
choose to do so.

Comment
--------------


6. (C) It was clear from the recent press
coverage that the Government of Moldova was
adopting a very hardline position against IRI and
NDI (see reftel). We believe that Voronin's
conspiratorial mindset has genuinely led him to
believe that NDI and IRI, and perhaps the USG,
wish to promote regime change in Moldova via the
2009 elections. We have urgently requested a
meeting with Voronin and/or his chief political
advisor Marc Tkaciuk to try to avert such a
disastrous blow to U.S.-Moldovan relations. We
will also informally and in general terms advise
our EU colleagues of our concerns at a previously
scheduled meeting of donor countries on July 10.

PERINA