MOLDOVAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

C O N F I D E N T I A L CHISINAU 000419

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: Declassify 06/02/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV KV MD
SUBJECT: MOLDOVAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PROMISES TO RAISE ISSUE OF KOSOVO RCC AND SEECP
PARTICIPATION AGAIN

REF: STATE 53787

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


1. (C) Ambassador Chaudhry met Acting Minister of
Foreign Affairs Andrei Stratan on May 28 to
deliver reftel demarche on Moldova's non-
acceptance of travel documents issued by the
Government of Kosovo (GOK),thus preventing GOK
delegates from participating in the June 4 Annual
Meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)
and the June 5 SEECP Summit. Ambassador Chaudhry
made the demarche as part of a coordinated effort
by the United States, German, French, Italian and
British embassies in Chisinau.


2. (C) FM Stratan replied that the Government of
Moldova (GOM) was unable to allow GOK
representatives to enter Moldova because
permission would violate the Moldovan Parliament's
decision not to recognize Kosovo, and would give
Transnistrian leaders "opportunity to talk."
(Note: Stratan was referring to Transnistrian
attempts to draw an analogy between the
recognition of Kosovo and Transnistria's own
desire for recognition. End note.) Stratan
stressed that the Transnistrian issue was
particularly sensitive given "all that is coming
from Romania." (Note: Stratan was referring
generally to the mud-slinging match between the
presidents of Romania and Moldova, which has given
support to Transnistrian arguments that Romania is
seeking to reunite with Moldova, a move that would
end forever any chance that Transnistria would
accept a settlement that reintegrated the region
back into Moldova. End note.)


3. (C) Ambassador Chaudhry noted Stratan's
concerns, and argued that he was not asking
Moldova to recognize Kosovo--only to permit entry
of GOK delegates. The Ambassador argued further
that, while Kosovo is recognized by many
countries, Transnistria is recognized by no one,
not even Russia. Further, he continued,
Transnistria is an internal affair of the Republic
of Moldova. In response, Stratan replied that he
would approach his colleagues in GOM leadership
and raise the issue once more.

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


4. (C) With the GOM in an acting capacity at the
highest levels, and the parliamentary election of
a president still on hold, it is doubtful that the
GOM will respond favorably to the demarche
request, despite the strong arguments made in its
favor.


CHAUDHRY