Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CHISINAU750
2009-09-30 15:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Chisinau
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES U.S. CONCERNS AND

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM KTIP EAID PINR MD 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHCH #0750/01 2731547
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 301547Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8421
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 000750 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KTIP EAID PINR MD
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES U.S. CONCERNS AND
MCC COMPACT WITH NEW PM FILAT

Classified by: Charge d'Affaires Marcus R. Micheli
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 000750

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KTIP EAID PINR MD
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES U.S. CONCERNS AND
MCC COMPACT WITH NEW PM FILAT

Classified by: Charge d'Affaires Marcus R. Micheli
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: The Ambassador met with newly-
appointed Prime Minister Vlad Filat on September

28. The central focus of the meeting was the
recent developments surrounding the MCC Compact.
The Ambassador informed Filat that MCC had
submitted a Congressional Notification on the
intent to negotiate a Compact for USD 262 million
with Moldova and then outlined the negotiating
process to reaching a final Compact agreement.
The Ambassador also stressed concerns about
trafficking in Moldova and the registration
problems faced by IRI and NDI. The PM requested
USG assistance in reforming the Agriculture and
Interior Ministries. End Summary.

U.S. Relationship a Priority for Filat Government
-------------- --------------


2. (C) In a September 28 meeting, the Ambassador
congratulated newly-confirmed Prime Minister Vlad
Filat. The Ambassador noted that the United
States stands prepared to assist Moldova in moving
forward in promoting democracy and economic
development. The Prime Minister responded that
his government would work to consolidate
democracy, promote the rule of law, and ensure
transparency. Filat thanked the Ambassador for
the support of the United States to Moldova and
its citizens and underlined that his government
saw the relationship with the United States as a
priority for his country.

What Moldova Needs to Do
--------------


3. (C) The Ambassador advised Filat that the new
GOM could take several steps that would send a
positive message to the U.S. and Europeans. For
example, the GOM needed to continue efforts to
reduce and solve the TIP problem. It was
imperative that Moldova work to improve its Tier 2
Watch List ranking. The lack of substantial
progress in this area hurt Moldova's image and two
consecutive years at a Tier 2 Watch List ranking
would automatically relegate Moldova to Tier 3.


4. (C) Filat responded that Moldova must accept

the responsibility to combat trafficking, and
promised that his government would work to solve
the problem in Moldova. He said his government
would also approach the destination countries for
victims to jointly develop strategies to eliminate
trafficking. The Ambassador noted that the
Department of State had developed an action plan
for Moldova on trafficking and the Embassy would
like to work with his designee for fighting
trafficking to provide assistance. Filat
responded that the assistance would be gratefully
appreciated.


5. (C) Ambassador also raised the lingering
problem of registration for IRI and NDI. By
allowing the two institutions to reregister, the
Ambassador emphasized that the GOM would quickly
send a message that any organization promoting
democracy building and economic development would
be able to operate freely in Moldova. Filat
offered an apology for what had happened to IRI
and NDI and noted that the new Minister of
Justice, Aleandru Tanase, had received all the
information concerning IRI and NDI and would make
a decision "within a couple of days." (Note: On
September 29, Minister Tanase registered IRI and
NDI in a ceremony in front of local media. End
Note.)

Moldova and the IMF
--------------


6. (C) Filat also stated that an IMF mission would
arrive in Moldova in mid-October to begin
discussions on a new agreement. (Note: Moldova's
IMF agreement expired in May, 2009, and the
previous Communist-led government was not willing
to negotiate seriously with the IMF Mission that
visited Moldova in late May 2009. End Note.)
Filat said that Moldova found itself in an unusual

CHISINAU 00000750 002 OF 002


political situation and the Prime Minister asked
for the Ambassador's support in conveying this
message to the IMF mission. Moldova was ready to
introduce the economic and social reforms that the
IMF would request but it was important that the
IMF not set conditions that would undermine the
election of a President in Moldova. (Note: The
101-member Parliament elects the President with 61
votes. The current parliament has 48 Communist
members and 53 members belonging to four coalition
partners. End Note.)

MCC Compact CN and Negotiations
--------------


7. (C) The Ambassador then explained the latest
developments in the MCC Compact process, which if
approved could total about USD 262 million. Filat
listened carefully as the Ambassador informed him
that MCC had sent a Congressional Notification to
the Congress on September 22. The Ambassador
stressed that, once the 15-day review period
expired, the GOM needed to designate high level
members for its negotiation team, and that it
would be advisable to include technical advisors
from the Moldovan team who had been working on the
Compact.


8. (C) The Ambassador further explained that upon
completion of negotiations, MCC would submit the
agreement to the MCC Board for approval. At that
point the Embassy would need to point out the
successes the new government had had in improving
Moldova. The Ambassador noted that he would like
to report to Washington that progress had been
made in the areas of TIP, IRI and NDI
registration, and democratic development in the
country. The Ambassador also stressed that
implementation of the Compact would be key. The
process for selecting contractors for the MCC
projects had to be open and transparent. The GOM
should also be mindful that the MCC Board would
consider tripwires such as combating TIP and
democratic development in reviewing the Compact.

Government Reform in the Making
--------------


9. (C) In response to an earlier request from the
PM to assist with reforming the Ministry of
Agriculture, the Ambassador said that the Embassy
was exploring the possibility of bringing an
expert from the Foreign Agriculture Service to
Moldova to consult with the Ministry. The Prime
Minister thanked the Ambassador for this response,
and then requested similar assistance in reforming
the Ministry of Interior, which he said needed
significant changes. The Ambassador promised to
look into possibilities to assist the PM in this
area.

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


10. (C) The new Prime Minister appears to
understand our concerns about trafficking and we
believe he is committed to making significant
progress. The immediate registration of IRI and
NDI shows the seriousness with which he is taking
our concerns. We also are heartened by the fact
that at several points during the meeting, the
Prime Minister emphasized that his government
would promote rule of law, transparency, openness,
and democratic development.

MICHELI