Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CHISINAU15
2009-01-12 14:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Chisinau
Cable title:  

CHISINAU HEADS OF MISSION QUESTION

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM PINR MD 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4835
RR RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHCH #0015 0121421
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 121421Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7502
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L CHISINAU 000015 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/UMB, DRL/AE

E.O. 12958: Declassify 01/11/19
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR MD
SUBJECT: CHISINAU HEADS OF MISSION QUESTION
PRESIDENT ON MEDIA CONCERNS; VORONIN GIVES MIXED
SIGNAL ON NDI

REFS: A. 08 Chisinau 1257 B. 08 Chisinau 1235

Classified by Ambassador Asif J. Chaudhry under
1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L CHISINAU 000015

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/UMB, DRL/AE

E.O. 12958: Declassify 01/11/19
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR MD
SUBJECT: CHISINAU HEADS OF MISSION QUESTION
PRESIDENT ON MEDIA CONCERNS; VORONIN GIVES MIXED
SIGNAL ON NDI

REFS: A. 08 Chisinau 1257 B. 08 Chisinau 1235

Classified by Ambassador Asif J. Chaudhry under
1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: Western heads of mission met
President Voronin on December 22 to raise concerns
about pre-electoral media freedoms; Ambassador
Chaudhry raised the residence-permit issue of the
National Democratic Institute (NDI) country
director. Voronin replied disappointingly in
public on the media and the NDI, but gave a more
positive response on the NDI in a private meeting
with Ambassador Chaudhry afterwards. End summary.


2. (C) Ambassador Chaudhry spoke on behalf of the
group, noting that many in the West were watching
Moldova carefully as elections drew closer, and
perceiving much that was inconsistent with
democratic norms, especially regarding media
freedom. The French Ambassador noted that EU
states had issued two statements on the PRO TV
license, and commented on "ridiculous arguments"
surrounding the Audiovisual Council's decision on
PRO TV. (Note: This was three days after the
ACC's decision to defer the license renewal
question, reported in Ref A. End note.) OSCE
Ambassador Remler noted that OSCE's ODIHR would
monitor elections, and raised concerns about
apparent discrimination against PRO TV, and about
the high number of criminal charges facing
opposition political leaders. All three
ambassadors stressed that they were not judging
cases, but reporting negative impressions made by
the GOM.


3. (C) Voronin gave his "official assurances" that
the GOM would not exert any pressure on mass
media, and asserted that media representatives
complained about harassment only "to raise their
ratings." Voronin described the PRO TV situation
as "artificial and politicized," summarized the
ACC's December 19 moratorium on licenses, and
assured his audience that all media with expiring
licenses, including PRO TV, would be able to
continue their work.


4. (C) Ambassador Chaudhry also questioned the
four months of deferred promises and delays
surrounding the work and residence permit of NDI
country director Alex Grigorievs (ref B).
Voronin's public answer was disappointing: he
suggested that activities of such institutions,
while acceptable as democracy-promotion between
elections, should not be allowed during an
election campaign. When Ambassador Chaudhry
replied that NDI would be working only on issues
connected to election monitoring, and was not
involved in any activities that would affect party
politics, Voronin shot back that NDI was already
involved.


5. (C) In a private conversation after the
meeting, Voronin gave a more satisfactory answer
to Ambassador Chaudhry's concerns. Although the
President spoke darkly about outsiders trying to
influence elections (he referred to 78 Russian FSB
agents who roamed about the country in 2005 with
large sums of money),he said that the issue of
Alex Grigorievs's visa would be solved. All that
was needed, Voronin said, was the Ambassador's
assurance that NDI would not participate in the
campaign. The Ambassador noted that he had spoken
personally to NDI head Alex Grigorievs, who had
assured him that NDI was undertaking no such
activities.

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


6. (C) The dispute between Voronin's private
assurances and public complaints will be solved
when NDI's Grigorievs receives his residence and
work permit--or when he is expelled from the
country. With the GOM returning to work on
January 12, after a break that started for most on
December 24, we hope to see a resolution shortly.

Chaudhry