Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CHISINAU735
2008-07-10 11:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Chisinau
Cable title:  

ROMANIAN FM VISIT A STEP FORWARD IN A

Tags:  PGOV MD RO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3739
RR RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHCH #0735/01 1921157
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 101157Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6877
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CHISINAU 000735 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2018
TAGS: PGOV MD RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIAN FM VISIT A STEP FORWARD IN A
STRAINED RELATIONSHIP

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CHISINAU 000735

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2018
TAGS: PGOV MD RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIAN FM VISIT A STEP FORWARD IN A
STRAINED RELATIONSHIP

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: Romanian Foreign Minister
Comanescu's July 7 visit to Moldova was viewed in
Chisinau as a successful step forward in
bilateral relations. Though no decisions were
made on signing a border treaty, President
Voronin said he would agree to the Romanian
request to open a consulate in Cahul, as he hoped
this would lead to the signing of the border and
political treaties. In return, Chisinau is
requesting a Moldovan consulate in Iasi.
President Voronin invited President Basescu to
visit Moldova. End Summary.

The Visit Was Successful Because It Happened
--------------


2. (C) Romanian Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu
visited Chisinau July 7, and held official
meetings with President Voronin, Foreign Minister
Stratan, Prime Minister Greceanii, Speaker Lupu,
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy
Dodon and Chisinau Mayor Chirtoaca. In a July 9
meeting with Charge Perina, FM Stratan opined
that the greatest achievement of the visit was
the very fact that it took place and was carried
out in a cordial atmosphere after such a long
time without bilateral meetings. The Foreign
Minister expressed the hope that the visit will
lead to further improvement in bilateral
relations, following the opening of consulates
and signing of border and political treaties.
The Romanian Ambassador also told us he thought
the visit was successful in improving the
bilateral political atmosphere. He said that
Romania is making an effort to improve relations.

No Forward Movement on Border Treaty
--------------


3. (C) Stratan reported that the Romanian side
did not indicate when it would be ready to sign
the border treaty. However, Stratan expressed
his view that there are no outstanding issues
remaining in the text of the agreement, the only
issue remaining is its name. The two previous
stumbling blocks (recalling the 1947 treaty
establishing the border, which the Romanian side
objected to because it referred to a 1940
document signed under war duress, and the
question of language) have been solved. Moldova
agreed to remove mention of the previous
agreement. The language issue was solved by

removing any mention of whether Moldova called
its language Moldovan or Romanian, leaving only a
reference to "the official language of the
state." The outstanding question regarding the
title of the accord remains. The Romanian side
wants to call it a "Border Regime Treaty," while
the Moldovans view it as a "Border Treaty."

New Consulates Part of Roadmap for Improving
Relations
-------------- --------------
--------------


4. (C) Stratan said that Minister Comanescu had
asked President Voronin to allow Romania to open
another consulate in Moldova. According to
Stratan, Voronin had responded positively, saying
that he would agree to a Romanian consulate in
Cahul as he hoped it would unfreeze relations and
allow the two countries to sign the outstanding
border and political treaties. In exchange for a
Romanian consulate in Cahul, Moldova would like
to open one in Iasi. If Romania requested a
consulate in Balti, continued Stratan, Moldova
would seek one in Constanta. Stratan said that
the MFA is now preparing a diplomatic note to
Bucharest asking them to accept a Moldovan
consulate in Iasi.


5. (C) Stratan's roadmap for improved bilateral
relations would include rapid Romanian acceptance
of the Moldovan proposal for a consulate in Iasi
and prompt opening of a Romanian consulate in
Cahul. He suggested that the positive step of
opening these two consulates could pave the way

CHISINAU 00000735 002 OF 003


for signing of the Border Treaty and Small
Traffic Convention. After that, the two sides
could move on to the question of consulates in
Balti and Constanta. However, Stratan expressed
concerns that the Romanian side would delay
opening in Cahul because they realize that, the
next step would be the border treaty. Stratan
noted that Comanescu might face domestic
opposition back in Bucharest, and thus it was
difficult to project a timeline for the
consulates and the treaties.

Invitation for Romanian President to Visit
Moldova
-------------- --------------
-


6. (C) During Comanescu's meeting with President
Voronin, the Moldovan side extended an invitation
to President Basescu to visit Moldova. Stratan
said that with these initiatives, Moldova was
doing everything it could to unblock bilateral
problems and move forward in relations with
Romania.

Discussions of Transnistria Conflict with
Chisinau Mayor
-------------- --------------
--------------


7. (C) After Comanescu's meeting with Mayor
Chirtoaca, the Romanian Foreign Minister told the
press that the two had discussed European
integration and the Transnistrian conflict.
Comment: Comanescu apparently had a more wide-
ranging dialog with the openly pro-Romanian mayor
of Chisinau than with the central government.
Clearly, he was more open to the press after that
meeting than at the joint press conference
between the two foreign ministers, at which no
questions were taken. As the Chisinau mayor does
not have any input into the Transnistrian issue,
Romanian engagement with him on this serves only
to further anger the central government, which is
already upset with Chirtoaca's persistent efforts
to address bilateral Moldovan-Romanian issues.
End Comment.

Meetings with Prime Minister and Parliamentary
Speaker
-------------- --------------
--------------


8. (C) According to press reports, Comanescu's
meeting with Prime Minister Greceanii focused on
economic cooperation between the two countries.
In the first quarter of 2008, trade exchanges
increased by 36 percent from last year, and stood
at about one billion dollars. The minister
pointed out that all Moldovan-Romanian economic
issues will be discussed during the Moldovan-
Romanian joint commission for economic
cooperation, which will take place in September

2008. Press reports on Comanescu's meeting with
Speaker Lupu referred vaguely to discussions of
long-term cooperation and projects beneficial for
the citizens of the two countries.

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


9. (C) The visit of Romanian Foreign Minister
Comanescu represents a badly-needed improvement
in the state of bilateral relations between the
two countries. Though improving relations with
Romania is clearly in the Moldovan interest,
Presidents Voronin and Basescu have appeared
unable to carry out the most minimal diplomatic
niceties. Bilateral discussions regarding
consulates in Cahul and Balti have a sorry
history. President Voronin had already agreed in
January 2007, to let Romania open these two
consulates as a result of the visa crunch
following Romania's accession to the EU. By March
of that year, however, he withdrew his permission
as bilateral relations soured in a sea of mutual
accusations. Hopefully the positive momentum
rekindled by Comanescu's visit will promote a
more functional and productive relationship.


CHISINAU 00000735 003 OF 003


PERINA