Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CHISINAU525
2009-07-06 15:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Chisinau
Cable title:  

NEW DEPUTY PM ROSCA PROMISES ACTION ON

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM KTIP KWMN CASC MARR MD 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9379
RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR
DE RUEHCH #0525/01 1871501
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 061501Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8138
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CHISINAU 000525 

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: Declassify 06/16/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KTIP KWMN CASC MARR MD
SUBJECT: NEW DEPUTY PM ROSCA PROMISES ACTION ON
TIP, IMPROVED COLABORATION WITH U.S.

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

REF (A) Chisinau 492

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CHISINAU 000525

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: Declassify 06/16/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KTIP KWMN CASC MARR MD
SUBJECT: NEW DEPUTY PM ROSCA PROMISES ACTION ON
TIP, IMPROVED COLABORATION WITH U.S.

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

REF (A) Chisinau 492


1. (C) Summary: In two meetings with Ambassador
Chaudhry, June 24 and 26, newly appointed Deputy
Prime Minister Iurie Rosca promised to use his new
authority to correct human rights abuses in
Moldova and rejuvenate the country's efforts
against trafficking in persons (TIP). He noted
that better statistics were needed on trafficking,
suggesting that the situation had already improved
but that Moldova needed the data to prove it.
Rosca said he had already discussed the issue of
IRI and NDI registration with the President, and
promised to raise it with the Ministry of Justice
and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and return again
to the President, suggesting he could solve this
problem. Rosca also expressed his readiness to
tackle issues of corruption in the "criminal"
Ministry of Interior, which is now under his
subordination. He promised, and later delivered,
information about the Ministry of Defense transfer
of 200 troops to the Ministry of Interior, as well
as information about an AMCIT imprisoned after the
April 7 violence. Rosca stated repeatedly that he
wanted to change his country, and that he saw the
U.S. as his crucial partner in this process. End
summary.

Rosca Ready to Take Stronger Action on TIP
--------------


2. (C) Ambassador met twice with Iurie Rosca, on
June 24 and 26, to discuss TIP and other key human
rights issues within the newly appointed Deputy
Prime Minister's portfolio. Rosca had already
read the USG TIP Report in English, knew the
issues, and promised to start solving the problems
quickly. In response to the Ambassador's points
on TIP delivered on June 24, Rosca stressed that
he had Acting President Voronin's full confidence,
and was "absolutely free" to deal with human
rights and TIP. Rosca noted that Voronin had been
criticized by the Russians for appointing him (as
a former anti-Communist) to this position, but

said he would be careful and diplomatic as he did
not wish any direct confrontation with the
Russians.


3. (C) Rosca noted that he had already fought with
Minister of Interior Gheorghe Papuc, who wanted to
fire the director of the Center for Combating
Trafficking in Persons, Valeriu Hincu. Rosca told
us on June 24 that both the Prime Minister and the
President supported his insistence that Hincu stay
on the job, and on June 26 updated us by saying
that a highly stressed Hincu (who had been afraid
of losing his job) had expressed his desire to
continue in this role.


4. (C) Rosca noted that he maintained excellent
relations with Papuc personally, but went on to
explain that he viewed the Ministry of Interior as
a "criminal organization" involved in trafficking,
corruption and prostitution. He said that it
would not be easy to confront them, and that the
person to do so would have to be strong and
courageous, as it would be struggle against a
criminal mafia. Rosca said that he would work
carefully, smoothly, and silently, but would have
to shake up some people within the structure.

Rosca Demonstrates Activism on TIP and Human
Rights
-------------- --------------
-


5. (C) Although the National Committee to Combat
Trafficking in Persons has met infrequently in the
past, Rosca demonstrated his promised activism on
TIP by calling a meeting for June 25 to discuss
the TIP situation in general and the USG TIP
Report in particular. He invited civil society
representatives to join government officials at
this meeting.


6. (C) On human rights, Rosca said that he had met
the committee established in the Ministry of

CHISINAU 00000525 002 OF 003


Justice to monitor Moldova's compliance with
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) judgments.
Rosca told us that Moldova had lost too many cases
on police torture, and that he planned to change
the situation immediately.

Rosca Promises to Address IRI-NDI Registration
-------------- -


7. (C) On June 26 the Ambassador briefed Rosca
about his meeting the day before with President
Voronin (ref A),in which he had raised four key
issues the MCC Board of Directors would be looking
for in making its decision to proceed with the
Moldova compact: progress in TIP, free media,
elections, and registration of IRI-NDI. Rosca
noted that Voronin had already briefed him about
this conversation. Rosca reported that he had
already told the president that it would be
necessary to register IRI and NDI. Understanding
the critical linkage with MCC compact and why this
was so important for Moldova, Rosca promised to
discuss IRI-NDI registration again with the
president, and said he would also raise it with
Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Foreign
Affairs immediately. Rosca said he would be
careful to identify the right moment to approach
Voronin, in order to raise the issue at a time
when the Moldovan president would be ready to
accept the argument.


8. (C) Rosca hypothesized that part of the problem
with IRI-NDI registration was the strong influence
of Russian security services. Rosca noted that it
was relatively easy for certain "agents of
influence" around Voronin to manipulate him, while
the "normal" people around Voronin did not have
the courage to confront him.


9. (C) In a later conversation at Embassy's Fourth
of July reception, Rosca reported that he had
taken up the issue of IRI-NDI registration and
gave us a signal that both organizations could get
registered. After talking with the Ministry of
Justice, Rosca said he believed that it would be
possible to register NDI (without Alex Grigorievs)
and that something could be done to register IRI,
by coming up with a solution using another name.

USG Concerns about Troop Transfers from MOD to MOI
-------------- --------------


10. (C) In the June 24 meeting, Rosca responded
immediately to concerns raised by the Ambassador
regarding media reports that the GOM planned to
transfer a 200-man special forces battalion from
the Ministry of Defense to the Ministry of
Interior. Recognizing the possible negative
implications of U.S.-trained soldiers
participating in election-season crowd control,
Rosca immediately crossed the room, dialed the
Ministry of Interior, and set up a meeting. Rosca
returned on June 26, promising a special letter
prepared by the Ministry of Defense with all
necessary documentation about this personnel
transfer. Embassy DATT was briefed on these
transfers and the promised documentation arrived
at the Embassy soon after. The MOD explained that
200 unfilled vacancies were being transferred as
an inter-governmental administrative step, but
that no actual men or equipment were being moved.

Detained AMCIT
--------------


11. (SBU) In response to Ambassador's concerns
raised on June 24 about Romanian-American dual
national Yonathan Yerushalayim Netanyahu, arrested
for participation in the April 7 post-election
destruction of the Parliament building, Rosca
offered immediate help with the Ministry of
Justice to determine whether the AMCIT had been
treated in accordance with Moldovan legal norms.
Rosca returned on the 26th with statements from
both the Prosecutor General's Office and the
Ministry of Justice about this case. The
Prosecutor noted that Netanyahu had participated
actively in the mass disorders and that in the
course of a search of his rented apartment,
incendiaries were found. The Ministry of Justice

CHISINAU 00000525 003 OF 003


documented that Netanyahu had received medical
attention and provided his medical report.

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


11. (C) Post believes that Rosca offers
significant hope for change in areas where Moldova
has received the most negative publicity
(particularly TIP, human rights, and corruption),
and that we should take advantage of Rosca's
apparent willingness to address USG concerns. We
are pleased with his pragmatic, forward-leaning
approach, as demonstrated by his immediate follow-
through on each of the issues discussed. Rosca
can lead the GOM to take the right steps on TIP.
Rosca will hold the job of Deputy Prime Minister
at least until parliamentary elections on July 29.
If the Party of Communists (PCRM) wins outright or
governs in a coalition, Rosca could possibly be
retained. If an opposition coalition forms a
government, the new leaders would most likely not
keep him. The center-right parties regard Rosca
as a traitor for his post-2005 electoral alliance
with Voronin and the PCRM.

CHAUDHRY