MOLDOVAN FM AND DM VISIT NATO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USNATO 000070 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2020 TAGS: NATO PGOV PREL MD SUBJECT: MOLDOVAN FM AND DM VISIT NATO Classified By: DCM J. Heffern, Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Leancu and Defense Minister Marinuta visited the North Atlantic Council (NAC) on February 10, 2010 and reported on the reforms of their new Western-leaning government, on their desire for deeper Euro-Atlantic integration, and the political and economic plight of Moldova. PermReps welcomed the visit and the reforms undertaken by the Moldovan government and encouraged the country to undertake a Strategic Defense Review. FM Leancu also made a "plea" to the United States and EU to become more deeply engaged in resolving the Transnistria conflict. End Summary. -------------- Reforms of Western-Leaning Government -------------- ¶2. (C) In his first visit to the NAC since the July 2009 election of his government (which ended eight years of Communist rule),Moldovan FM Leancu provided a broad overview of the current political and economic situation in his country. He reported that under the leadership of Prime Minister Vladimir Filat, the four-party Alliance for European Integration (the "Alliance") had embarked on a path toward European integration, reintegration of the country (through a settlement of the Transnistria conflict),economic recovery, expanded democracy, and strengthened respect for rule of law. Parliament had twice undertaken to elect a President and failed to get the supermajority of votes required, he said, because of Communists, objections. However, he added that the Acting President will remain in place along with the current Alliance-led government and Prime Minister until new elections occur, most likely in the fall of 2010. FM Leancu said the Alliance was determined to retain control of the government and keep Moldova on its pro-European course. However, he added that Moldova was the poorest country in Europe and gas prices had just risen "astronomically" in January. He said Moldova was very grateful for the IMF's approval of a nearly $600 million standby agreement that will help make Moldova more attractive for foreign investment and the United States' $262 million Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact for agriculture and infrastructure projects. He added he would travel to European capitals in the coming weeks to ask for additional financial assistance. He said he understood that every budget was "strapped," but Moldova's budgetary woes were dire, and if his government was unable to improve the daily lives of Moldovans, the Communists no doubt would return to power. -------------- Moldova and NATO -------------- ¶3. (C) The FM noted that the majority of the Moldovan population does not support joining NATO (largely because of the influence of "foreign media") and that his government hoped to work with NATO on a public diplomacy campaign that would improve NATO's image in the country. Leancu noted that Moldova had benefited from its work with NATO on its Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP),but that its improvements so far had been only "modest." He reported that his government was working with the NATO International Staff on a new draft to update the current IPAP (written in 2006). Defense Minister Marinuta reported that defense sector reform was a high priority in his Ministry, but that Moldova had not yet begun a Strategic Defense Review (which he hoped the country would complete by the end of this year). The United States was among numerous Allies which encouraged the Defense Minister to undertake the review quickly and the reform agenda it would call for. The Defense Minister also reported that since 2008, five of the Moldovan Air Force,s six helicopters have been contracted to the UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on civilian charter. He did not anticipate that Moldova would be in a financial position to offer troops to any NATO missions in the near future. -------------- Transnistria -------------- ¶4. (C) FM Leancu noted that Moldova was the location of one of Europe,s last frozen conflicts in its Transnistria region. He said his government was very eager to see a more active 5 2 process (Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, Transnistria, and the OSCE the EU and United States as observers) to negotiate a settlement on Transnistria. Indeed, he "pled" for more active engagement from the United States and EU and said his country was more interested in a "7" process than a 5 2. He added that a settlement must (i) define Transnistria,s status within Moldova and its internationally USNATO 00000070 002 OF 002 recognized borders; (ii) provide for the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Moldova; (iii) facilitate the transformation of the current Russian "peacekeeping" force into an unarmed, multinational civilian presence under OSCE auspices; and (iv) further the implementation of the withdrawal of Russian forces and munitions from Moldova. ¶5. (C) PermReps warmly welcomed the FM and DM and applauded their government's reform agenda. All agreed that deeper Euro-Atlantic integration, political and economic reform, and resolution of the Transnistria conflict were essential for Moldova's stable future. Allies offered their support for the government's efforts and their hope for deeper cooperation between NATO and Moldova. HEFFERN