PM CALM ABOUT TIP DEMARCHE, DEFENSIVE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 000465

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/UMB, DRL/AE, G/TIP

E.O. 12958: Declassify 06/16/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM PINR MD
SUBJECT: PM CALM ABOUT TIP DEMARCHE, DEFENSIVE ON
MCC'S CONCERNS ABOUT NDI/IRI AND ELECTIONS

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

REF: State 61211


1. (C) Summary: In a June 16 meeting with
Ambassador Chaudhry, Prime Minister Zinaida
Greceanii responded with thanks for the advance
warning on the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report
(reftel),and promised that a Government of
Moldova (GOM) coordinator for TIP would be named
soon. When the Ambassador connected MCC Compact
to concerns over the National Democratic Institute
(NDI),the International Republican Institute
(IRI) and democratic elections on July 29, she
became visibly upset, made no direct response to
the concerns, and blamed the opposition for
negative impressions of Moldova. At the end, she
pledged her government's efforts to improve
negative impressions. End summary.

TIP Report Received
--------------


2. (C) The Ambassador noted the laudatory comments
made in the TIP Report on Moldova's efforts
against human trafficking, as well as the
determination that Moldova should remain on Tier 2
Watch List because "it did not demonstrate
sufficiently meaningful efforts to curb
trafficking-related corruption." When asked who
would be the GOM's lead for trafficking matters
following a recent cabinet reshuffle, the Prime
Minister stated that the person selected for the
position would be named soon, but still had to be
convinced to take the job. (Note: The Deputy
Prime Minister-level position that supervises TIP
includes all human rights responsibilities, and
coordination of all ministries--including the
powerful Ministry of Interior--that deal with law
enforcement. Later in the day, President Voronin
announced that former Deputy Speaker of Parliament
and Christian Democrat leader Iurie Rosca was to
be Deputy Prime Minister. One day later, the GOM
announced that Rosca would assume this portfolio.
However, since Rosca will be campaigning for
Parliament, he will be required to suspend himself
from his ministerial functions until after July

29. End note.)

Angry and Defensive Reaction to MCC Compact
Concerns
-------------- --------------
--


3. (C) Turning to events before and after the
April 5 elections, the Ambassador summarized the
negative impressions about Moldova which are
current in Washington: questions of transparency
and media freedom before voting day; questions
about the conduct of elections; and questions
regarding the treatment of protestors. During
this scenesetter, the Ambassador noted that he was
not judging, but reporting how Moldova is
perceived. He then told the Prime Minister that
these impressions had formed the background to the
Millennium Challenge Corporation June 10 board
meeting, at which members also raised concerns
regarding upcoming elections and the non-
registration of IRI and NDI. The Ambassador ended
his backgrounder with an appeal to the Prime
Minister for help in overcoming Moldova's negative
image.


4. (C) The Prime Minister, who has invested a
great deal of her time and interest in MCC issues
in Moldova, at first ducked the issue and blamed
politicians who fight against the state and travel
to the United States to speak ill of Moldova.
(Note: She was referring to the recent visit to
the U.S. of Chisinau Mayor and Liberal Party Vice
President Dorin Chirtoaca. End note.)


5. (C) When the Ambassador raised the issues of
Romania-based Pro TV, its license-renewal
problems, and media freedom, and repeated his
pledge that NDI and IRI were accountable to him to
remain neutral and balanced, Greceanii again
evaded the issues and asked, "Do you hear what the

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opposition is saying? That if they don't win,
they will consider the elections fraudulent?"
When the Ambassador agreed that pre-judging the
fairness of upcoming elections was of course
wrong, she continued: "The opposition parties are
avoiding responsibility. They accuse the
government of organizing everything." She then
noted that the opposition must come to the
negotiating table, but that the sovereignty and
independence of the country were not subjects for
debate. Concluding with a dig at Pro TV, she said
that the channel "always twists what I say, on the
orders of someone."


6. (C) After her comments regarding the
opposition, the Prime Minister regained her
equanimity and noted that she and her government
would do all that they could to change negative
impressions of Moldova, and had signed a pledge to
run free and fair elections. In the context of
image renewal, she noted that it would be a pity,
after the expenditure of so much effort, not to
sign the MCC Compact in the autumn.

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


7. (C) Despite the Ambassador's specific
references to easily fixed issues which harm
Moldova's image abroad and make it hard for the
U.S. to support Moldova, the Prime Minister
offered only a general promise to fix bad
impressions, without promising any specific GOM
action to fix the problems. Perhaps she is under
pressure from Acting President Voronin to reflect
his antagonisms against NDI, IRI and Pro TV. She
certainly responded coolly to a three-way meeting
among her, the Ambassador, and the President, and
eagerly welcomed the Ambassador's statement that
he would meet the President one-on-one. Whatever
the reasons may be, the usually calm and
technocratic Prime Minister gave a disappointing
performance, redeemed in part by her pledge to fix
perceptions of Moldova.


CHAUDHRY