Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE34311
2008-04-03 02:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

VORONIN PLEASED WITH BUSH'S SUPPORT OF MOLDOVAN SOVEREIGNTY

Tags:  PGOV PREL MD 
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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #4311 0940229
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 030226Z APR 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO AMEMBASSY VILNIUS 9467
C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 034311 

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QUOTE:


C O N F I D E N T I A L CHISINAU 000371

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STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MD
SUBJECT: VORONIN PLEASED WITH BUSH'S SUPPORT OF MOLDOVAN SOVEREIGNTY

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 034311

SIPDIS

SIPDIS - FOR MINSK

THE FOLLOWING CHISINAU 00371 DTD 02APR08 SENT ACTION
STATE INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE REPEATED
FOR YOUR INFORMATION 03APR08


QUOTE:


C O N F I D E N T I A L CHISINAU 000371

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MD
SUBJECT: VORONIN PLEASED WITH BUSH'S SUPPORT OF MOLDOVAN SOVEREIGNTY

Classified By: Ambassador Michael D. Kirby, for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).

1. (C) Summary: Ambassador Kirby met with President Voronin on April
2 to review the Bucharest NATO Summit, an Article 98 agreement, a
Moldovan contingent to Iraq, and the resignation of the NATO
Information and Documentation Center head. Voronin didn't lose this
opportunity to reiterate Moldova's current and future orientation
toward the EU and desire to become an EU member. Voronin was in a
good mood, commenting jovially and proudly about the new female
members of his Cabinet and reminiscing about the warm interactions he
had with Romanian officials during Soviet times. End summary.


2. (C) Voronin was very pleased with President Bush's public words
about U.S. support for Moldovan sovereignty, territorial integrity
and resolution of the Transnistrian conflict via 5+2 talks. Voronin
said Bush's words were a welcome "unprecedented declaration." He
wondered what Romanian President Basescu's reaction would be to them,
implying that the Romanians should understand that Moldova would
remain independent and not become a part of Romania. The Ambassador
underscored USG support for a Moldova-Romania border agreement as an
additional sign that the two countries existed as separate states.
Voronin hoped the EU, too, would support such an agreement. He
stressed that Moldova needed a follow-on agreement with the EU to
replace the current EU-Moldova Action Plan which is expiring, to give
Moldova some perspective for future membership. "We don't need a
specific timeline for joining the EU, but give us some possibility
for membership," he said.


3. (C) The Ambassador raised the progress we are making towards
agreeing on a text of an Article 98 agreement between the U.S. and
Moldova and urged a signing of the agreement. He also asked about
the perspectives for a Moldovan contingent to Iraq. Voronin asked
for U.S. understanding while Moldova waited for the EU's assessment
of the Action Plan. After the EU signed a new agreement with
Moldova, no obstacles would remain, the President stated. The
President believed signing an Article 98 agreement with the U.S. now
could be a "knock-out punch" to Moldova's hopes for the next formal
agreement with the EU. Regarding the Iraq contingent, the President
noted that the decision was now in Parliament and asked an aide to
check on parliamentary deliberations.


4. (C) Other details: Voronin noted that the new executive committee
chosen at the March Communist Party Congress was composed mostly of
officials born in the 1960s. His generation born in the 1940s should
make way for the younger, more energetic members of the Communist
Party (PCRM),he stated. He was very proud of the new female members
of his Cabinet, pointing out that Prime Minister Greceanii was the
first woman in that position in the entire history of Moldova. He
also was pleased that, in comparison to 2001 when the PCRM first
composed a government, this time he had many more candidates among
which to choose the Prime Minister and other ministers.


5. (C) Comment: Voronin looked good. He had good color in his face;
he didn't look tired as he has in meetings the past few months. He
was engaged, focused, energetic and spoke more distinctly than during
recent past meetings. Voronin seemed genuinely pleased with the
Ambassador's update on North Carolina private-American activities
(dental clinics and women's soccer coaching). Voronin conserves an
affinity for the struggles of average Moldovans. He al
so commented
that he had no "phobias" against Romanians. Perhaps the problem was
just that the Romanians lacked self-confidence, he speculated.
Kirby
UNQUOTE: RICE