Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE34308
2008-04-03 02:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Secretary of State
Cable title:
NEW MOLDOVAN CABINET: FEW CHANGES, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON
how-toVZCZCXYZ0004 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHC #4308 0940206 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 030202Z APR 08 FM SECSTATE WASHDC INFO AMEMBASSY VILNIUS 0000
C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 034308
SIPDIS
SIPDIS - FOR MINSK
THE FOLLOWING CHISINAU 000369 DTD 02APR08 SENT ACTION
STATE INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE REPEATED
FOR YOUR INFO 03APR08
QUOTE:
C O N F I D E N T I A L CHISINAU 000369
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/UMB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MD
SUBJECT: NEW MOLDOVAN CABINET: FEW CHANGES, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON
ECONOMIC REFORM
REFTEL: CHISINAU 324
Classified By: Ambassador Michael D. Kirby, for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 034308
SIPDIS
SIPDIS - FOR MINSK
THE FOLLOWING CHISINAU 000369 DTD 02APR08 SENT ACTION
STATE INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE REPEATED
FOR YOUR INFO 03APR08
QUOTE:
C O N F I D E N T I A L CHISINAU 000369
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/UMB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MD
SUBJECT: NEW MOLDOVAN CABINET: FEW CHANGES, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON
ECONOMIC REFORM
REFTEL: CHISINAU 324
Classified By: Ambassador Michael D. Kirby, for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) This contains an information request for Embassy London.
Please see para. 5.
2. (C) Summary: The new 20-member Moldovan cabinet of Prime Minister
Zinaida Greceanii, approved by Parliament on March 31, contains 14
holdovers from the Tarlev administration, five new ministers in
established positions, and one minister in a new ministry. The new
cabinet appears to have shed some dead wood, while promoting
technocrats who have been effective economic reformers. There are
five women in the cabinet, in addition to the PM. End summary.
Useful Old Hands Staying On
--------------
3. (C) The old and steady hands who have stayed on are Minister of
Foreign Affairs and European Integration Andrei Stratan, Minister of
Justice Vitalie Pirlog, Minister of Defense Vitalie Vrabie, Minister
of Reintegration Vasile Sova, Minister of Social Protection, Family
and Child Galina Balmos, Gagauz Governor Mihail Formuzal (ex
officio),and Minister of Economics and trade Igor Dodon, who was
also promoted to First Deputy Prime Minister. We have had close and
fruitful working relations with all of them. Mr. Dodon, and the new
Prime Minister, have cooperated closely with us on economic and
financial reform; Dodon's promotion to First Deputy Prime Minister
indicates that the new government will give a high priority to
deregulating the economy, removing barriers, such as corruption, to
investment, and cooperating with us on Millennium Challenge
Corporation reforms.
Replacements-Interior and Info Development Important
-------------- --------------
4. (C) The important news on replacements is the changeover at the
Ministry of Interior, where the powerful Gheorghe Papuc, who has
proved difficult to approach and work with, has been replaced by
Valentin Mejinschi, former head of the Center for Combating Economic
Crimes and Corruption. Another welcome loss is that of former
Minister of Information Development Vladimir Molojen, a former KGB
general and crony of President Voronin; he has been replaced by Pavel
Buceatchi, who moves up from Vice Minister at Information
Development. The changeover from Victor Tvircun to Larisa Savga
(another economic specialist) at the Ministry of Education and Sport
is not an important change. The replacement of Ion Ababi by
physician Larisa Catrinici as Minister of Health is something of a
disappointment; we had fruitful relations with Ababi. (However,
Ababi was eager to return to academia and he likely asked to step
down.) Holdover Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Violeta
Ivanov has been in office only since February 26, when her
predecessor Constantin Mihailescu was sacked for corruption. Heading
a new ministry, that of Construction and Territorial Development, is
Vladimir Baldovici, an otherwise unknown company director.
Durlesteanu from Court of St. James to Finance
-------------- -
5. (C) New Minister of Finance Mariana Durlesteanu, who replaced
Mihai Pop, was Moldova's Ambassador to the U.K. Post would
appreciate information about her attitudes, opinions, and ways of
working, if Embassy London has had any contact with her.
Holdovers with Less Impact
--------------
6. (C) Others who have stayed on have made less of a reformist
impact, and have not played an important role in our bilateral
relationship: Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Anatolii
Gorodenco, Minister of Transport and Road Management Vasile Ursu,
Minister of Culture Artur Cozma, Chairman of the Academy of Science
Gheorghe Duca (ex officio),and Minister of Local Public
Administration Valentin Guznac.
7. (C) Comment: Like the Prime Minister herself (reftel),the
cabinet appears to be a group of steady technocrats, who, President
Voronin told the Ambassador in an April 2 meeting, have a mandate to
improve economic conditions for Moldovans before the 2009
parliamentary elections. End comment.
Kirby
UNQUOTE: RICE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS - FOR MINSK
THE FOLLOWING CHISINAU 000369 DTD 02APR08 SENT ACTION
STATE INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE REPEATED
FOR YOUR INFO 03APR08
QUOTE:
C O N F I D E N T I A L CHISINAU 000369
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/UMB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MD
SUBJECT: NEW MOLDOVAN CABINET: FEW CHANGES, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON
ECONOMIC REFORM
REFTEL: CHISINAU 324
Classified By: Ambassador Michael D. Kirby, for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) This contains an information request for Embassy London.
Please see para. 5.
2. (C) Summary: The new 20-member Moldovan cabinet of Prime Minister
Zinaida Greceanii, approved by Parliament on March 31, contains 14
holdovers from the Tarlev administration, five new ministers in
established positions, and one minister in a new ministry. The new
cabinet appears to have shed some dead wood, while promoting
technocrats who have been effective economic reformers. There are
five women in the cabinet, in addition to the PM. End summary.
Useful Old Hands Staying On
--------------
3. (C) The old and steady hands who have stayed on are Minister of
Foreign Affairs and European Integration Andrei Stratan, Minister of
Justice Vitalie Pirlog, Minister of Defense Vitalie Vrabie, Minister
of Reintegration Vasile Sova, Minister of Social Protection, Family
and Child Galina Balmos, Gagauz Governor Mihail Formuzal (ex
officio),and Minister of Economics and trade Igor Dodon, who was
also promoted to First Deputy Prime Minister. We have had close and
fruitful working relations with all of them. Mr. Dodon, and the new
Prime Minister, have cooperated closely with us on economic and
financial reform; Dodon's promotion to First Deputy Prime Minister
indicates that the new government will give a high priority to
deregulating the economy, removing barriers, such as corruption, to
investment, and cooperating with us on Millennium Challenge
Corporation reforms.
Replacements-Interior and Info Development Important
-------------- --------------
4. (C) The important news on replacements is the changeover at the
Ministry of Interior, where the powerful Gheorghe Papuc, who has
proved difficult to approach and work with, has been replaced by
Valentin Mejinschi, former head of the Center for Combating Economic
Crimes and Corruption. Another welcome loss is that of former
Minister of Information Development Vladimir Molojen, a former KGB
general and crony of President Voronin; he has been replaced by Pavel
Buceatchi, who moves up from Vice Minister at Information
Development. The changeover from Victor Tvircun to Larisa Savga
(another economic specialist) at the Ministry of Education and Sport
is not an important change. The replacement of Ion Ababi by
physician Larisa Catrinici as Minister of Health is something of a
disappointment; we had fruitful relations with Ababi. (However,
Ababi was eager to return to academia and he likely asked to step
down.) Holdover Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Violeta
Ivanov has been in office only since February 26, when her
predecessor Constantin Mihailescu was sacked for corruption. Heading
a new ministry, that of Construction and Territorial Development, is
Vladimir Baldovici, an otherwise unknown company director.
Durlesteanu from Court of St. James to Finance
-------------- -
5. (C) New Minister of Finance Mariana Durlesteanu, who replaced
Mihai Pop, was Moldova's Ambassador to the U.K. Post would
appreciate information about her attitudes, opinions, and ways of
working, if Embassy London has had any contact with her.
Holdovers with Less Impact
--------------
6. (C) Others who have stayed on have made less of a reformist
impact, and have not played an important role in our bilateral
relationship: Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Anatolii
Gorodenco, Minister of Transport and Road Management Vasile Ursu,
Minister of Culture Artur Cozma, Chairman of the Academy of Science
Gheorghe Duca (ex officio),and Minister of Local Public
Administration Valentin Guznac.
7. (C) Comment: Like the Prime Minister herself (reftel),the
cabinet appears to be a group of steady technocrats, who, President
Voronin told the Ambassador in an April 2 meeting, have a mandate to
improve economic conditions for Moldovans before the 2009
parliamentary elections. End comment.
Kirby
UNQUOTE: RICE