Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CHISINAU582
2009-07-27 14:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Chisinau
Cable title:  

FOREIGN MINISTER STRATAN

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM PINR MD 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHCH #0582/01 2081451
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 271451Z JUL 09 ZDK DUE TO NUMEROUS REQUESTS
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8206
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHLMC/MCC WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 000582 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/UMB, DRL/AE

E.O. 12958: Declassify: 07/26/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM PINR MD
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER STRATAN

CHISINAU 00000582 001.4 OF 002


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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 000582

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/UMB, DRL/AE

E.O. 12958: Declassify: 07/26/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM PINR MD
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER STRATAN

CHISINAU 00000582 001.4 OF 002


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


1. (C) Summary: In a July 27 meeting with
Ambassador Chaudhry, Acting Minister of Foreign
Affairs and European Integration Andrei Stratan
promised, without much certainty or enthusiasm,
that he would fix the problems created when the
Government of Moldova (GOM) refused accreditation
to the majority of European Network of Election
Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) observers. End
summary.

Minister of Foreign Affairs not in ENEMO Clearance
Loop
-------------- --------------
--------------


2. (C) Told that the Central Election Commission
(CEC) had accredited only 53 of the 140 observers
whose accreditation was requested by ENEMO, and
asked what the GOM had against the 87 who had been
rejected, Stratan expressed surprise that there
were problems. Told that even the ENEMO Head of
Mission, a Ukrainian, had been refused
accreditation, Stratan asked the Ambassador what
he had heard from the CEC about the clearance
process. The Ambassador replied that the CEC had
noted that clearances were required from the MFA,
the Ministry of Interior and the intelligence
service (SIS),and asked Stratan what his
objections from his ministry were. Stratan
admitted that he had not seen the materials, and
shifted responsibility to other two GOM bodies.


3. (C) Stratan admitted that the accreditation
problem was creating yet another bad impression of
Moldova, especially since the ENEMO invitation was
made by the Embassy at the personal request of
President Voronin. He expressed further surprise
when told that 17 of the 53 accredited ENEMO
observers, coming from countries without Moldovan
embassies or consulates, had requested airport
visas last week, but had heard nothing from the
MFA. Stratan noted that he had earlier authorized
airport visas for a visiting football team and had
"got in trouble" for his actions. Stratan
interrupted the meeting to telephone the head of
the CEC, but was told that he was in a meeting.
Pressed on the urgency of accreditation and
airport visas (polling booths will open 43 hours
after today's meeting),Stratan said that he would
raise the issue with his superiors.


4. (C) Dressed in slacks and a short-sleeved
shirt, Stratan explained that he was about to
leave for Rezina. Not to campaign, he promised
the Ambassador, but to solve a water-supply
problem in the north. Because no press or public
would be present, and because the project was
vital to four districts, Stratan explained, the
activity would not constitute political
campaigning.


5. (C) Just as the meeting was ending, we received
a report from the National Democratic Institute
(NDI) that a team of 11 ENEMO observers, all
Georgian citizens who were not yet accredited),
were being held at Chisinau Airport by Customs
police, despite the fact that CIS nationals do not
need visas to enter Moldova, and despite the fact
that the delegation had an invitation letter from
the CEC. According to NDI, the Customs Police
said that they also needed a telephone call from
the CEC. We later heard that the Georgian Consul
and a lawyer hired by ENEMO went to the airport to
assist. Both were told that the Georgians might
be sent back to their country.

Comment:
--------------


6. (C) Stratan was sure of himself regarding the
campaign--sure that he was not involved in it, and
sure that Lupu and the Party of Communists would
be able to consolidate their forces in the next
Parliament, despite current conflicts between Lupu
and Voronin. On the issue of his ministry's
ability to influence events within the competence
of the ministry, he expressed only promises to

CHISINAU 00000582 002.4 OF 002


look into things. While the Embassy has been
attempting to hold the GOM's feet to the fire on
democratization issues connected with upcoming
elections, it appears that there are no feet left,
after the GOM shot them off.


CHAUDHRY