DAS MERKEL'S MEETING WITH TRANSNISTRIA NEGOTIATOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 001771

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MD RS
SUBJECT: DAS MERKEL'S MEETING WITH TRANSNISTRIA NEGOTIATOR
NESTERUSHKIN

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Daniel A. Russell. Reasons 1.4 (B/D).


1. (C) In a short June 19 meeting, GOR Special Negotiator
for the Transnistria conflict Valeriy Nesterushkin briefed
EUR Deputy Assistant Secretary Merkel on recent developments.
Nesterushkin said that the conflict was entering an
"exciting" period, and highlighted Security Council Deputy
Secretary Zubakov's June 18-21 visit to Tiraspol and
Chisinau. According to Nesterushkin, Zubakov met with
Smirnov on June 18 and would meet Voronin on June 19. After
the Zubakov - Smirnov meeting, Tiraspol issued a press
release forecasting that Medvedev and Smirnov would meet
before the end of the year. Nesterushkin maintained that for
Tiraspol, it was Russia, not Moldova, that mattered.
Nesterushkin plans to visit Kyiv on June 24 to learn more
about Ukrainian FM Ohryzko's June 14 meeting with Smirnov,
which the Ukrainians touted as "groundbreaking."
Nesterushkin suspected that the GOU was trying to make Odessa
the permanent base for 5 plus 2 meetings; the GOR had no
objection, but thought that the attempt would not succeed.


2. (C) DAS Merkel stressed that meetings for the sake of
meetings would not help the process. Instead, the main
players should make an effort to use meetings and events in
pursuit of a concrete goal. DAS Merkel thought the location
of the 5 plus 2 meetings was of no importance, but worried
that the participants might lose confidence in the process if
there was a prolonged period without results. Nesterushkin
thought it was important that the dialogue continue
regardless.


3. (C) Nesterushkin said that Romanian President Basescu
planned to visit Moscow soon. With Romania desiring to be
recognized for its "contribution" to the Transnistria
negotiation process, there was a talk of a new format:
Ukraine, Romania and Moldova, he added. DAS Merkel inquired
about the sequencing of the Medvedev meeting, the 5 2, and
the importance of flowing into the 5 2 format.


4. (C) DAS Merkel asked if the GOR concerns regarding
neutrality were satisfied with the Constitution and National
Security strategy. Nesterushkin said that with all capitals'
consent, basic elements of neutrality could be secured and
accepted.


5. (C) DAS Merkel and Nesterushkin agreed on early September
consultations in Washington.
RUSSELL