MFA ASKS AMBASSASDOR NOT TO GO TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 000221

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM RO MD
SUBJECT: MFA ASKS AMBASSASDOR NOT TO GO TO
ROMANIA; DELIVERS POINTS ON 2-PLUS-1

Classified by: Ambassador Asif J. Chaudhry for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

Ref A: Chisinau 216


1. (C) Summary: On March 23 MFA Americas Desk
Officer Mariana Roibo called on Pol/Econ Section
Chief to deliver points on two issues. The MFA
requested that the Ambassador not travel to Iasi,
Romania, to attend the Moldova's Black Sea
Conference on March 27. Participation on that
date (which is the anniversary of the March 27,
1918 unification of Bessarabia with Romania) could
be easily misinterpreted as support for
unification with Romania which would be
destabilizing during the electoral campaign, the
MFA rep explained. Additionally the MFA officer
raised 2+1, seeking to address the USG's concerns
about the Moscow meeting. End Summary.

March 27 Conference Attendance Could Be
Misinterpreted
--------------


2. (C) As a preamble to her demarche on the March
27 conference, MFA Americas Desk Officer Mariana
Roibo noted that on Friday, March 20, the MFA had
called in Romanian Ambassador Teodorescu and
delivered a Diplomatic Note warning about the
possible travel of Romanian students to Moldova to
participate in pro-unification demonstrations to
take place in Chisinau on March 27. The note had
informed the Romanian diplomat of GOM concern that
participation in such demonstrations during the
electoral campaign could have a destabilizing
effect.


3. (C) Though the Government of Moldova recognized
the March 27, 1918, unification as a historical
fact, Roibo noted GOM concern about the Moldova
Foundation's choice to hold its conference on that
date. The GOM had no objection to the conference,
or the subject matter to be discussed, only to the
fact that it was being held on March 27 and in
Romania. The GOM was concerned about the
possibility of the Ambassador's participation, as
it could too easily be misinterpreted as Embassy
sympathy for the pro-unification idea. The
Moldovan authorities were concerned about
encouraging nationalist extremism, and did not
want events politicized for electoral purposes,
continued Roibo. She expressed the view that
participation of the U.S. Ambassador in this
conference would heighten its political aspect.


4. (C) Pol/Econ Section Chief responded that
Embassy understood the MFA's concerns. She
explained that while the Ambassador had originally
agreed to speak at the conference, he had already
decided not to participate. We understood the
significance of the day and how it could be
misinterpreted.

Concerns about 2-plus-1
--------------


5. (C) Desk Officer Mariana Roibo also raised the
issue of the recent 2-plus-1 meeting in Moscow.
She said that the MFA had heard from its Embassy
in Washington that the State Department had
concerns about 2-plus-1. Roibo commented that the
Moldovan Embassy would soon receive instructions
on points to make in Washington, but she wanted to
make several comments now. Roibo said that
Moldova's commitment to 5-plus-2 would not change,
as it would remain the only forum for
negotiations. Additionally, she noted that the 2-
plus-1 meetings were only consultative, not a
negotiating format.


6. (C) Pol/Econ section chief responded that USG
concerns were not about Moldova's commitment to 5-
plus-2, but regarding the text of the Joint
Declaration. Specifically, the USG was concerned
about point 4, praising the work of the
peacekeeping forces and giving them a mandate to
remain until after a Transnistria settlement was
concluded. The USG had previously proceeded from
the understanding that the GOM had sought the
removal of all Russian troops, including both the

CHISINAU 00000221 002 OF 002


"limited contingent" and the peacekeeping forces.
The text of the Joint Declaration appeared to
represent a shift in position. Roibo was unable
to give a substantive response, but made note of
the point.

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


7. (C) Following the Ambassador's meeting with
President Voronin on March 19 (ref A) in which the
Moldovan leader expressed his concerns about the
upcoming March 27 demonstrations, accusing NDI of
being involved with organizing these events, it
was already clear that participation in the Iasi
conference would be misinterpreted. Today's
demarche was confirmation that at the highest
levels the GOM would misperceive the Ambassador's
travel to Romania as support for pro-unification
elements. Though we value the work of the Moldova
Foundation, and find the subject matter of the
conference interesting, it would not be
appropriate for the Ambassador to attend in that
location and on that date.

CHAUDHRY