CHARGE DELIVERS MESSAGE ON U.S.-RUSSIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L CHISINAU 000543

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: Declassify: 07/13/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PBTS RS MD
SUBJECT: CHARGE DELIVERS MESSAGE ON U.S.-RUSSIA
PRESIDENTIAL SUMMIT

Classified by Charge d'Affaires a.i. Kelly
Keiderling under 1.4 (b) and (d).

REF: SECSTATE 70576


1. (C) On July 13, 2009, the Charge delivered
reftel talking points to Deputy Minister of
Foreign Affairs and European Integration Valeriu
Ostalep. After noting U.S. support for the
territorial integrity of Georgia and Ukraine and
rejecting the idea of privileged spheres of
influence (reftel para. 15),the Charge preempted
any concern about Moldova's not being included in
the list with Georgia and Ukraine by restating
U.S. support of Moldova's territorial integrity.
The Charge also stressed that no improvement in
U.S.-Russian relations would be made at the
expense of friends in the region such as Moldova.
Ostalep thanked her for the readout, and said his
government knew well the U.S. position about
upholding Moldovan territorial integrity.


2. (C) The Deputy Foreign Minister expressed his
doubt about Russian intentions in the region. He
said that he still doubted how much Russia could
be trusted, and raised the issue of Ukraine's
demand that Russian intelligence officers leave
Sevastopol, and Russia's refusal to do so. (Note:
Russia's Black Sea fleet is based at Sevastopol in
Ukraine's Crimea, under the terms of a treaty that
expires in 2017. End note.) Ostalep described
the issues of the refusal and the re-negotiation
of the treaty as serious issues for the next
government of Ukraine. He also wondered why
Ukraine failed to support more fully Moldova's
position on Transnistria, when Ukraine was facing
the possibility of an analogous problem on its own
territory.


3. (C) Ostalep described his frustration with
Ukraine's lack of full cooperation with the
European Union Border Assistance Mission. He said
that Ukraine had refused, without explanation, to
establish joint Ukrainian-Moldovan checkpoints at
border posts along the Transnistrian portion of
the Moldovan-Ukrainian border. Ostalep said that,
as a result, Transnistrian officials under an EU-
U.S. visa ban, including some sought by Interpol,
are able to leave Transnistria and enter a
"tolerant" Ukraine. Ukraine, he said, should also
subscribe to the visa ban. Ostalep blamed
Ukrainian oligarchs with business interests in
Transnistria for keeping the border open to
suspect individuals, and lamented the fact that
these oligarchs were able to trump Ukraine's
strategic interests.


4. (C) Comment: Even when we are reporting about
improved U.S.-Russian relations, Moldovan
officials' first response is to worry about Russia
and its ambitions in the "near abroad." Ostalep
was no exception. Moldova is perpetually nail-
biting about Russia. We need to provide constant
reassurance that the U.S. will not abandon
Moldova.


KEIDERLING