FM LEANCA DESCRIBES MOLDOVAN FOREIGN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 000895

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR KDEM MD
SUBJECT: FM LEANCA DESCRIBES MOLDOVAN FOREIGN
POLICY HOPES TO DAS RUSSELL

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


1. (C) Summary: Speaking to DAS Dan Russell on
November 19, Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of
Foreign Affairs and European Integration Iurie
Leanca discussed Moldova's need for a total U-turn
in Moldova's foreign policy, from firing "useless"
ambassadors, to normalizing relations with
Romania, Ukraine, Russia and the EU. DAS Russell
assured continued USG support for Moldova's
sovereignty, advised on "achieving the achievable"
with Ukraine and Russia, and supported the idea
that a declaration at the OSCE ministerial would
be useful only if it produced tangible results.
End summary.

"We Are European, but You Help the Most"
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2. (C) Leanca began by noting that Moldova under
the Communists was an authoritarian regime with
"no police, but a Soviet militia." He complained
that the EU reaction to crackdowns after April 7
post-election riots failed to focus on democratic
shortcomings of the Communist government, and
thanked the USG for its more pro-active approach
on political dialogue, security, trade, and
investment--especially the Millennium Challenge
Compact. "We are a European country," Leanca
said, "but the real assistance comes from the
United States." He added his hope that an
official visit by PM Vlad Filat could be arranged
for January.

The Easy Winner--Romania
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3. (C) Noting that Moldovan foreign policy, like
its domestic policy, needed a "complete reset,"
Leanca announced that he had recalled six
ambassadors appointed by the previous government,
and was planning to recall six or seven more. As
an example of a successful reset in Moldova's
foreign policy, he cited his recent visit to
Bucharest, where he was impressed by the
pragmatism of the Romanians and the benefit that
Moldova would receive from Romania's EU and NATO
expertise. He also noted with a smile that there
was no difference between rival presidential
candidates Traian Basescu and Mircea Geoana in
terms of the aid and assistance that both want to
give to Moldova.

A Tougher Item--Ukraine
--------------


4. (C) Leanca, noting that the previous Communist-
led government had had no dialogue with Ukraine,
complained that the Ukrainians were acting
emotionally and expecting too much from the change
of government, particularly on border demarcation:
"They want to settle everything now, and ignore
our issues," he said. Leanca hoped for more
progress once he had chosen a deputy minister to
handle the Ukrainian portfolio, but warned that
continuing electoral uncertainty in Ukraine will
make progress difficult.


5. (C) Leanca asked DAS Russell to encourage the
Ukrainians to discuss technical realities, and
keep sensitive issues out of the newspapers. The
FM said that he had heard from Timoshenko about
diversifying gas supplies via the "wide stream,"
but had heard nothing in the last month: "Perhaps
she has been using her imagination too much, and
has nothing to do with reality," he said. Leanca
also noted that the international community had
underrated the Ukrainians' ability to influence a
Transnistrian settlement.

Russia--Complain without Antagonizing
--------------


6. (C) Leanca said that he appreciated
DASRussell's read-out on U.S.-Russian relations
and agreed that decades of mistrust and missed
opportunities would be difficult to overcome.
Leanca noted that he did not want to antagonize
Russia, but still needed to address continued

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economic sanctions and Russian troop presence in
Transnistria. The troops, he stated, take the
element of partnership out of the phrase "security
partnership." Leanca complained that Russia
wanted to make the Moldovan presidential election
an "international exercise with only eastern
participation." He said that failure to elect a
president would not be the end of the world, and
that Moldova would still have a government
committed to being a model for EU partnership.

International Issues--GUAM and the OSCE
Ministerial
-------------- --------------
-


7. (C) Leanca stated that Moldova, which almost
left GUAM under the previous government, would now
return gradually, on the basis of real benefits to
Moldova. Concerning the upcoming OSCE ministerial
in Athens, he agreed with DAS Russell that a
ministerial declaration would be useful only if it
achieves something, and that a good start would be
the Helsinki draft, to which all parties have
agreed, save for the final two paragraphs. Leanca
stated that Russia was firmly against any language
on NATO, and that Moldova did not want any
language on Moldovan neutrality without action on
Russian troops. Leanca also said that now was the
time to move ahead on the Peacekeeping Force:
"There has been no bloodshed since 1992. Why not
have a civilian and international force?"


8. (C) DAS Russell and Leanca agreed that a useful
and achievable deliverable in any ministerial
declaration was a commitment to withdraw one
trainload of obsolete and dangerous ammunition
from Transnistrian armories. Leanca joked that
once such operation a year would solve that
problem in 20 years, but agreed that it was a good
start.

Comment:
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9. (C) Leanca was on top of his brief, focused
and articulate. He was also greatly appreciative
of USG efforts to assist Moldova in the transition
to which he is committed. He showed himself to be
a firm friend of the United States, and committed
to our common interests in a democratic and
prosperous Moldova.


CHAUDHRY