VORONIN HEARS POINTS ON ELECTIONS, TIP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CHISINAU 000492 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/UMB E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM KTIP RO MD SUBJECT: VORONIN HEARS POINTS ON ELECTIONS, TIP AND MEDIA PROGRESS NEEDED FOR MCC COMPACT REFS: (A) Chisinau 449 (B) Chisinau 465 (C) Chisinau 375 Classified by: Ambassador Asif J. Chaudhry for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: In a June 25 meeting, the Ambassador informed President Voronin about the MCC Board of Directors' discussions on Moldova at their June 10 meeting. The Ambassador explained that instead of going ahead with approving the Investment Memo at their next meeting, the MCC Board had asked for a report to their September meeting on Moldova's progress in four key areas: NDI-IRI registration, TIP, fair elections, and media freedom. The Ambassador stressed that Moldova now had an opportunity to take positive steps in these areas. He noted some assistance the USG could provide for reforming media and conduct of elections, but underlined that registration of NDI and IRI was entirely up to the GOM. End Summary MCC Board Wants a Report on Moldovan Developments -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) In a meeting on June 25, Ambassador Chaudhry (accompanied by Pol/Econ Chief) told President Voronin that he was disappointed that it had taken two weeks from the embassy's initial request to have this meeting scheduled. The Ambassador had initially hoped to meet with the President before the June 10 meeting of MCC's Board of Directors. The Ambassador had made points to Foreign Minister Stratan (ref A) and Prime Minister Greceanii (ref B),but wanted the president to be aware personally of what needed to be done. The Ambassador explained that recent post-electoral events had created a negative impression of Moldova abroad. He noted that members of the MCC board (which included government and private sector members) included the Chairman of IRI, and Secretary Hillary Clinton, who was very close to NDI Chair Madeleine Albright. The very same week that the MCC Board meeting was scheduled to make important decisions on Moldova's compact, the GOM had denied IRI's registration, and the previous week had denied NDI. ¶3. (C) The President noted that he had made three international trips in the past week, and asserted that it would have looked wrong had he met with the American Ambassador in the days before he travelled to Moscow -- as if he were taking instructions from the USG. He then asked anxiously about the MCC's decision. The Ambassador explained that, instead of agreeing to go ahead with approving the Investment Memo at the Board's next meeting, the Board had required that a report be prepared for its September meeting to address Moldova's actions on the following four issues: (1) NDI-IRI registration; (2) a signal that things were getting better on TIP; (3) extent to which elections were democratic, transparent and fair; and (4) media freedom. The Ambassador hoped the President would cooperate on taking actions necessary for providing a positive response on these issues. Ambassador Met with Deputy Prime Minister on TIP -------------- --- ¶4. (C) The Ambassador informed the President that the previous day (June 24) he had met with newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister Iurie Rosca to discuss trafficking in persons. The Ambassador said that he had been very impressed and that this was one of the best meetings he had ever had in terms of Rosca's willingness to address problems. In preparation for their meeting Rosca had read the TIP report. The two discussed steps needed for Moldova to create a more positive image of its efforts to address the trafficking problem. Experts to Make Recommendations on Media Freedoms -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) When Voronin and the Ambassador last met on May 18 (ref C) the two had agreed that the USG CHISINAU 00000492 002 OF 003 would provide independent media experts to study the current situation and make recommendations on how to improve media freedom. The Ambassador informed the President that money had been allocated and that the experts would soon begin with their analysis, starting with Teleradio Moldova. Voronin asked that the report be held until after the elections. The Ambassador told Voronin that we had no plans to make the results public during the campaign period and that the results of this study would be only for the GOM to use in making reforms. Improvements Needed in Upcoming Elections -------------- ¶6. (C) The Ambassador spoke of the need for voter education, and progress with the voters' lists, and said that the international community would be working with the CEC on better ways to tabulate the votes to increase public confidence. President Voronin assured the Ambassador of his intention to do everything possible to ensure the correct political environment for the electoral campaign. Voronin pointed out that although the opposition had charged fraud in the April 5 elections, they had failed to offer any evidence. He complained that only those who did not love their country would wish to force repeated elections again and again. The President then said that he would like to have as many international observers present as possible. The Ambassador said that the USG would be trying to fund a European organization that would provide additional elections observers. Importance of Registration of IRI and NDI -------------- ¶7. (C) The Ambassador noted that the USG could offer some support on the first three issues where MCC required progress, but that the fourth issue, registration for NDI and IRI, was completely up to the GOM. The Ambassador reminded the Moldovan president that he had promised NDI Director Ken Wallach, that if NDI Country Director Alex Grigorijevs were to leave the country, the GOM would be willing to register the organization. The Ambassador argued that Moldova needed to send a positive signal to the MCC Board, and have positive news in all four areas. President Voronin listened to the Ambassador's presentation and promised to consider his argument. He then jokingly suggested waiting until after July 29, when Marian Lupu would become president and letting him solve the issue. Lupu's "Betrayal" Caused Moral Pain -------------- ¶8. (C) Leaning forward and saying he would share a secret, President Voronin claimed that Marian Lupu was already Speaker when he had entered the party "behind the president's back." Voronin said he only found out about Lupu's membership when, as head of the party he was asked to sign Lupu's membership card. At first he hesitated, but then thought that if the Speaker of Parliament wanted membership, then so be it. He said that he did not want the party to be used for climbing the career ladder. During the fifteen years since the party had been established, they had never been betrayed, until Lupu was the first to do so. Voronin said that the party was working on its campaign, and had not been damaged a lot by Lupu's defection. Instead, Voronin noted with some sadness, that he had personally supported Lupu's career development and thus this defection caused him personal moral pain. ¶9. (C) Voronin noted that former Prime Minister Tarlev and current Prime Minister Greceanii were never members of the Communist Party, neither since independence nor in the Soviet period. He explained that the etymological meaning of the word party was that it represented only a part of the society. Moldova had 34 parties, and the president had never intended his government to represent only his own party, but rather believed the GOM should be comprised of people with CHISINAU 00000492 003 OF 003 technical competence. He took some offense that Europeans kept referring to his party as Communists, noting that his regime should be appreciated for its accomplishments, not its label. When Voronin came to power in 2001, 84 percent of Moldova's trade went to Russia and the CIS states. Now, he said, the data for 2008 showed that the balance had shifted, as 51 percent of Moldova's trade was with the EU, while only 34 percent went to Russia and the CIS, with 13 percent to other countries. Need to Improve Relations with Romania -------------- ¶10. (C) President Voronin agreed with the Ambassador's comment that Moldova's relationship with Romania should be improved. He cited as an accomplishment the fact that in 2001 Romania was fourth on Moldova's list of trading partners, but by 2008 Romania had become Moldova's number- one trading partner. It was very significant for Moldova that trade with Romania was registered as trade with the EU. Voronin said that Moldova valued its trade with Romania, but noted that he would not accept removing the visa requirement for Romanians until Moldova received a visa-free regime for the EU. Voronin viewed Romania's decision to offer passports to citizens of Moldova for travel to Europe as a "very aggressive measure that could lead to destruction of the state." Voronin asked the U.S. to use its political influence in the EU to help Moldova resolve this problem. Comment -------------- ¶11. (C) The GOM is well aware of the importance of these four issues for the USG. While depoliticizing the public broadcaster, Teleradio Moldova, could be a lengthy process, registration for NDI and IRI could be achieved with the stroke of a pen. The Embassy will be pursuing TIP issues with Deputy Prime Minister Rosca and has scheduled a DVC on these issues in the coming days. It is in Moldova's interest to improve its record on media freedoms and electoral transparency, both to enhance its democratic development and to improve its image in the world. MCC has now added yet another reason for the GOM to take these issues seriously. We will continue our efforts on all four fronts in the hopes that the GOM will demonstrate some positive actions between now and September. CHAUDHRY