NEW DEPUTY PRIME MINSTER FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 000826

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PBTS EAID PINR MD
SUBJECT: NEW DEPUTY PRIME MINSTER FOR
REINTEGRATION OSIPOV OFF TO GOOD START

Classified by: Ambassador Asif J. Chaudhry for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: Despite initial doubts about his
inexperience and the GoM decision to abolish the
Ministry of Reintegration, new Deputy Prime
Minister for Reintegration Victor Osipov has won
over many of the initial skeptics. In a meeting
with the Ambassador on October 9, Osipov, who kept
all of ex-Minister Sova's team on board, expressed
the GoM's readiness to upgrade the U.S. and the EU
from observers to negotiators in the 5-plus-2
process. The Ambassador urged Osipov to focus on
getting status negotiations launched, briefed the
DPM on the October 6 meeting of the 3-plus-2 in
Vienna, and assured Osipov of our commitment to
Moldova's territorial integrity and sovereignty
over all territory within its borders. End
Summary.

Osipov Working Well with Reintegration Staff
--------------


2. (C) The new GoM's abolition of the Ministry for
Reintegration and nomination of Osipov -- a
journalist with no prior experience with
Transnistria issues -- as DPM for Reintegration
had been roundly criticized by the Communists and
by a number of local observers. However, as the
Ambassador was escorted upstairs for an October 6
meeting with Osipov, an aide to former Minister of
Reintegration Sova who accompanied us whispered
that "things are going much better than expected."
Osipov had not fired anyone from Sova's staff, and
was working well with them.


3. (C) At the meeting, Osipov was flanked by Sova
stalwarts such as Deputy Minister Ion Stavila.
The new DPM explained that he had been confronted
by an unusual situation in which the Ministry of
Reintegration had been eliminated as a structure.
The new GoM was still in the process of resolving
how it would restructure the Transnistria
portfolio. Osipov said that his plan was to keep
the entire team from the old Ministry within his
office, as they were experienced and knowledgeable
professionals. (Osipov's aides beamed with
pleasure at these words and the Ambassador's
echoed praise for their professionalism.)

Osipov Envisions Expanded Role for U.S. and EU
-------------- --


4. (C) Osipov said that the new government was
committed to the idea of having the European Union
and the United States play a more active role in
the 5-plus-2 process. However, Osipov noted, he
had not yet made any policy decision on this.


5. (C) The Ambassador counseled that Osipov should
focus on the issue of resolving Transnistria's
status. The Ambassador noted that it did not
matter what the USG was called, observer or
negotiator, we would play the same active role in
supporting the 5-plus-2 process.


6. (C) The Ambassador suggested and Osipov readily
agreed that the Transnistria conflict was actually
one of the easiest problems to solve -- if there
were will to solve it. Both agreed that it was
unnatural for the country to be divided, and that
many people have contacts on both sides. Osipov
was reassured by the Ambassador's articulation of
the two basic principles the USG supported in the
settlement talks: the sovereignty of Moldova over
all of its territory and Moldova's territorial
integrity within its borders.

Readout on 3-plus-2 in Vienna
--------------


7. (C) The Ambassador also provided a read-out on
the Vienna 3-plus-2 meeting which took place
October 6. Osipov said he was pleased with the
principles articulated in the final statement.
He noted that he had heard that the Ambassador had
worked hard to defend the necessary principles and
ensure that the balance in that final statement
was correct.


CHISINAU 00000826 002 OF 002


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


8. (C) Osipov has stepped in at a difficult time.
Since the Alliance for European Integration won a
parliamentary majority and took over the GoM,
there has been a flow of statements from Tiraspol
criticizing the Alliance's "pro-Romanian"
orientation, suggesting both that there is no one
now to negotiate with and that Transnistria would
rather go its own way. In addition, it will be
hard for Chisinau to take meaningful action during
the current period of uncertainty surrounding the
presidential elections, and the pro-Communist
media message that the new government will be
"anti-Russian" is being used by Tiraspol as an
excuse for further foot-dragging.


9. (C) Although critics had charged that Osipov
was inexperienced and not up to the job, he has
made a very good first impression. Instead of
carrying out a series of politicized firings, he
wisely kept Sova's knowledgeable staff on board
and appears to have won their allegiance and
cooperation. He will need their institutional
memory as he confronts the challenges of his
portfolio.

CHAUDHRY