www.unimedia.md C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CHISINAU 000295 SIPDIS E.O.

12958: DECL: 04/10/19 TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, EU, MD SUBJECT: Preedintele solicit renumrarea voturilor i d vina pe opoziie pentru violene 1. (C) Rezumat: n cadrul unei ntlni din 10 aprilie, cu preedintele Vladimir Voronin, Ambasadorul Asif Chaudhry a vorbit despre ngrijorarea Guvernului Statelor Unite referitor la arestrile protestatarilor, maltratri de jurnaliti, ameninrile de exmatriculare a elevilor din coal pentru participarea la demonstraii anti-guvernamentale i presiuni exercitate asupra profesorilor care-i convingeau pe elevi s participe la proteste. Ambasadorul a subliniat importana libertii de exprimare declarnd drept inacceptabil aplicarea oricrei forme de violen pentru exprimarea opiniei. Preedintele Voronin a acuzat opoziia pentru planificarea protestelor violente i pentru c nu a ateptat numrarea voturilor. El a fost suspicios cu privire la implicarea unor state strine. Pentru a iei din impasul actual, preedintele a solicitat renumrarea complet a voturilor. Voronin a declarat c nu are nici o informaie despre jurnalitii atacai i a spus c toi minorii arestai au fost eliberai pe 10 aprilie. Preedintele a declarat c legislaia prevede constituirea organelor legislative i executive pn pe 7 iunie. 2. (C) Reacia Guvernului Republicii Moldova la protestele violente din 7 aprilie nu a fost excesiv, a declarat Ambasadorul. Cu toate acestea, n ziua a doua i a treia a protestelor (8-9 aprilie), jurnalitii au fost btui, iar studeni arestai. Suntem ngrijorai de aplicarea unor msuri dure mpotriva mass-media, ameninrile guvernului moldovean de a expulza studenii i presiuni guvernamentale asupra profesorilor obligndu-i s conving elevii s nu participe la demonstraii. Ambasadorul a precizat c guvernul american nu accept violena, dar, de asemenea, crede n libertatea de exprimare. Arestrile trebuiesc oprite, a declarat ambasadorul. 3. (C) Liderii opoziiei susin c a avut loc votul. Ambasadorul a cerut preedintelui s gseasc o cale pentru a legitima alegerile. 4. (C) Ambasadorul a recunoscut c va fi foarte dificil, dar guvernul trebuie s gseasc un echilibru pe de o parte s permit oamenilor s se exprime i pe de alta s previn violena. Ambasadorul a insistat ca guvernul i opoziia s coopereze pentru a gsi o cale constructiv. Voronin acuz opoziia 5. (C) Diplomatul american a reamintit c programul "Provocrile Mileniului" ar putea fi periclitat din cauza recentelor evenimente. Preedintele d toat vina pe opoziie. 6. (C) Voronin a spus c a fost impresionat de faptul c Statele Unite nu au fost indifereni fa de evenimente recente din Moldova, spre deosebire de "structurile europene", care au fost supuse unei "critici obiective". Preedintele a spus c opoziia a nceput protestele violente i a fost vinovat de distrugerea cldirilor Preediniei i Parlamentului. Guvernul a avut dovezi c opoziia a planificat demonstraii nainte de ziua alegerilor. Cu o lun nainte de ziua votrii, opoziia a vorbit despre fraude, a remarcat Preedintele. Amploarea protestelor a fost neateptat, i foarte surprinztoare, a mai adugat Preedintele. Protestele au avut loc, indiferent de evaluarea pozitiv a alegerilor din partea observatorilor internaionali.

7. (C) Preedintele a declarat c guvernul a depistat trei tipuri de grupuri sociale care au fost implicate n proteste: copii (liceeni), studeni i fore care reprezint elemente criminale i cvasicriminale. Guvernul moldovean avea n posesie imagini video de bun calitate n care puteau fi vzute persoane care au deteriorat cldirile oficiale. Guvernul va identifica vinovaii i le va aduce n faa justiiei, a promis preedintele. 8. (C) Voronin a menionat c guvernul moldovean are dovezi de implicarea n protestele violente a "statelor strine". El a presupus c s-a dorit un "scenariu vechi" al revoluiilor colorate, care ns a euat n cazul Moldovei. "Cei care au dorit o revoluie colorat nu au calculat corect", a declarat Voronin. Prinii i profesorii poart responsabilitatea 11. (C) Vorbind despre protestatarii tineri, Voronin a spus c prinii i profesorii poart responsabilitatea principal n supravegherea vieii copiilor lor. El a spus c guvernul tie despre acei profesori care i-au ncurajat n mod direct sau indirect pe elevi s prseasc instituiile de nvmnt pentru a participa la demonstraii. Acei profesori care au instigat minori s ias la proteste vor fi pedepsii n conformitate cu legea, a declarat Voronin, pentru c au riscat cu vieile copiilor. Voronin a adugat c guvernul nu va expulza, probabil, elevii, dac acetia nu au participat la atacurile violente mpotriva cldirilor prezidenial i parlamentar. Atacurile asupra jurnalitilor 12. (C) Voronin prea nedumerit cnd ambasadorul a abordat problema jurnalitilor arestai i btui. Preedintele a primit toate rapoartele poliiei i nu tia de nici un atac asupra jurnalitilor. El a afirmat categoric, din numele guvernului, c nici un "jurnalist nu a fost atacat sau mpiedicat s lucreze." El a telefonat unui consilier care i-a confirmat cele declarate. Atunci cnd i s-a pus n fa un raport despre jurnalitii de la "Jurnal de Chiinu", preedintele a declarat c acetia posibil au fost atacai de protestatari. Domnul Mtsaru a ncercat s-i atace pe jurnaliti i a fost arestat la dou ore dup eveniment, a remarcat Preedintele. Arestrile minorilor 13. (c) Cnd ambasadorul l-a ntrebat despre minorii care au fost arestai, Preedintele l-a informat pe diplomatul american c toi minorii au fost eliberai pe 9 aprilie chiar n prezena prinilor lor. Prinii ar trebui s-i verifice pe copiii lor ca acetia s nu ias noaptea, a declarat preedintele Voronin. Comentarii 16. (C) Preedintele Vladimir Voronin a inventat multe lucruri. Opoziia a planificat proteste i violenele din timp. Guvernele rilor strine au fost implicate n demonstraii. Liderii opoziiei au acionat incorect pentru a contesta rezultatele alegerilor. Prinii i profesorii au fost responsabili pentru aciunile copiilor lor. Atacurile violente mpotriva cldirilor Parlamentului i Preediniei au fost odioase. nelegerea lui Voronin a principiilor democratice este una limitat. Ideea c guvernul poart responsabilitatea de prevenire a violenelor n conformitate cu normele

legale, dar i de crearea unui mediu prielnic pentru libertatea ntrunirilor i exprimrii nu face parte din psihologia btrnului. Instinctele vechi de control guvernamental i presiune, folosirea agenilor serviciilor de informaii pentru intimidarea cadrelor didactice n supravegherea studenilor, arestarea protestatarilor panici fr vre-un motiv legal, i acuzaiile aduse elementelor strine pentru problemele create n ar prevaleaz n concepiile lui Voronin i ali oficiali guvernamentali de vrst mai naintat. 17. (C) Btrnul Voronin prea obosit n timpul ntrevederii. Uneori discursul su era lipsit de sens, mai ales atunci cnd a vorbit oarecum incoerent despre revoluii colorate care au euat n Republica Moldova. Spre sfritul conversaiei peste o or i jumtate, preedintele a nceput s vorbeasc n limba rus, fr s observe. 18. (C) El ne-a spus c i-a cerut ministrului de Externe s solicite bani de la Uniunea European pentru a acoperi costul de 15-20 milioane de dolari pentru reparaia cldirilor distruse. Preedintele se pare c nu contientiza c aciunile guvernamentale n timpul protestelor arestarea protestatarilor panici, folosirea serviciului de informaii pentru a intimida profesori, ameninarea prinilor pentru aciunile copiilor lor, ameninarea efilor instituiilor de nvmnt cu pierderea locurilor de munc, atacurile asupra jurnalitilor, forarea angajailor guvernamentali de a participa la mitinguri pro-guvernamentale, picteaz o imagine a unui guvern nedemocratic n relaia cu muli dintre cetenii si. Republica Moldova se pare c s-a ndeprtat i mai mult n a deveni un stat european modern, de aderarea la UE, dect acum o sptmn.

 C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CHISINAU 000295 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/19 TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, EU, MD SUBJECT: President Calls for Full Vote Recount, Blames Opposition for Violence 1. (C) Summary: In a meeting on April 10 with President Vladimir Voronin, Ambassador Chaudhry stated USG concerns about arrests of protestors, beatings of journalists, threats to expel students from school for participating in anti-government demonstrations earlier in the week and pressure on teachers to keep students away from protests. The Ambassador stressed the importance of freedom of expression and spoke against any violent expression of opinion. President Voronin blamed the opposition for planning the violent protests and for not waiting until votes were fully tallied to complain. He was suspicious about the involvement of foreign states. To get beyond the current impasse, the President called for a full recount of the votes. Voronin said he had no information about journalists being attacked and noted minors who had been arrested had been released on April 10. The President said the law stipulated that the new legislative and executive branches would have to be constituted by June 7. End summary. Ambassador Expresses USG Concerns 2. (C) The Moldovan government (GOM) reaction to the violent protests on the Tuesday, April 7, was not excessive, the Ambassador noted. On the second and third day of the protests (April 8-9), however, journalists were beaten and students were arrested, the Ambassador stated. We have concerns about harsh measures against media, GOM threats to expel students, and governmental pressure on teachers to stop their students from participating in demonstrations, the Ambassador continued. The Ambassador made clear that the USG does not support violence, but also believes in freedom of expression. The arrests should stop, the Ambassador stated. 3. (C) Opposition leaders claimed that multiple voting had taken place by one person, the Ambassador noted. He urged the President to find a way to legitimize the elections. 4. (C) The Ambassador recognized that it was hard but government must find a balance between allowing people to express themselves and preventing violence. He urged that the government and opposition cooperate to find a way forward constructively. 5. (C) The American diplomat reminded the President that the USG's Millennium Challenge Corporation's compact program could be jeopardized by the recent events. President Lays all Blame on Political Opposition 6. (C) Voronin said he was impressed that the U.S. had not been indifferent to recent events in Moldova, unlike "European structures" which deserved the President's "objective criticism." The President told the Ambassador that the opposition had started the violent protests and were to blame for the destruction in the presidency and parliamentary buildings. The government had evidence that the opposition had planned the demonstrations before election day. Even a month before voting day the opposition had been talking about fraud, the President noted. The scale and results of the protests were unexpected, and most surprising, the President added, the protests had taken place regardless of international observers'

positive evaluation of the elections. 7. (C) The President said that government observed three sets of people who had been involved with the protests: children (note: meaning high schoolers), university students and "forces representing criminal and quasi-criminal elements." The GOM had good-quality video of the people who had damaged the presidential office building. The government would identify the culprits and bring them to justice, the President promised. 8. (C) Voronin mentioned that the GOM had evidence that "foreign states" were also involved in the violent protests. He also mused that the "old scenario" of the color revolutions had worked several years ago, but not in Moldova's case. "Those who wanted a color revolution didn't calculate correctly," Voronin stated. 9. (C) The opposition should have waited until the Central Election Commission (CEC) had concluded its vote count and then presented its complaints to the CEC, the Appeals Court and the Constitutional Court, as the law stipulated in case of electoral problems. Instead, the President said, the opposition said nothing to the government or CEC. Only after they met with the President on April 7 did the opposition leaders (of the Liberal Democratic Party, PLDM, the Liberal Party, PL, and the Our Moldova Alliance, AMN) present their complaints to the CEC. President Calls for Full Vote Recount 10. (C) In any case, Voronin continued, he had appealed today to the constitutional court to recount all the votes, "all 100 percent of them," he stressed. "We would have taken this decision on the first day (of the protests), but the opposition needed the pretext," the President averred. Teachers, Parents Should Control Students 11. (C) Speaking of the young protestors, Voronin said parents and teachers had primary responsibility to control their children. He said that the government knew of teachers who had directly and indirectly encouraged their students to leave school for the demonstrations. Those teachers who instigated minor-age students to protest would be punished in conformity with the law, Voronin stated, because they had risked the lives of the children. Voronin added that the government would likely not expel the students, if they had not participated in the violent attacks against the presidential and parliamentary buildings. Attacks on Journalists 12. (C) Voronin seemed puzzled when the Ambassador raised the issue of journalists being arrested and beaten. He had received all the police reports and knew of no attack against journalists. He categorically stated, on behalf of the government, that "no journalists were attacked or prevented from working." He turned to an aide and asked further about the claim. When the aide noted a media report about "Jurnal de Chisinau" (Moldovan independent newspaper) journalists, the President concluded that the journalists must have been attacked by the demonstrators. A Mr. Matasari (not further identified) tried to beat up journalists, the President noted, and was arrested two hours after the event. ? Arrests of Minors

 13. (C) When the Ambassador asked about minors who had been arrested, the President informed the American diplomat that all minors had been released yesterday (April 9) into the hands of their parents. Parents should have controlled their children and not allowed their kids to go out at night, the President restated. Formation of New Parliament, Government 14. (C) Thinking ahead to the formation of a new government, Voronin said he was concerned about how his Party of Communists (PCRM) would work with the opposition in Parliament during the next four years. The opposition would blame the PCRM of fraud and the PCRM would focus on the violent events. The constructive work of the legislature would not be done. Voronin suggested an equitable approach to working with the opposition. If, for example, the recount resulted in the same percentages of seats in Parliament--60 percent for the PCRM and 40 percent for the combined (PLDM, PL and AMN) opposition--then he would propose that the PCRM hold 60 percent of the parliamentary leadership and committee positions and the opposition 40 percent. 15. (C) Voronin discussed the timeline for the formation of Parliament and the executive branch. According to the law, Voronin explained, the first parliamentary session should be held one month after the elections, by May 5. A recount of 1.6 million votes could take a week or 10 days, the President said, in which case the May 5 date could slip by a week or more. All procedures to install a new Parliament, choose a new President and constitute a new executive branch (Prime Minister and other Ministers) needed to occur by June 7, the President said. Comment 16. (C) President Voronin had his mind made up. The opposition planned the protests and violence in advance. Foreign governments were involved in the demonstrations. Opposition leaders acted incorrectly to contest the results of the elections. Parents and teachers were responsible for controlling their children. The violent attacks against the Parliament and Presidency buildings were abhorrent. Voronin's understanding of democratic principles is limited. The idea that government has the responsibility to prevent violence according to legal norms and also to create a welcoming environment for freedom of assembly and of expression is not part of the old man's psychology. Old instincts of governmental control and pressure, of using intelligence operatives to intimidate teachers into controlling the movement of students, of arresting peaceful protestors or onlookers without legal cause, and of blaming foreign elements for problems prevail in Voronin and other older generation governmental officials. 17. (C) Speaking of old man, Voronin seemed tired during the meeting. At times he made little sense, as when he talked in somewhat rambling fashion about color revolutions that didn't work in Moldova. Toward the end of the hour-and-a-half conversation the President lapsed into Russian, seemingly without noticing that he had switched away from Moldovan. 18. (C) He told us that he had asked the Foreign Minister to request money from the European Union to cover the 15-20 million dollar cost of fixing the damaged parliamentary and presidential buildings. The President doesn't seem aware that governmental actions on the margins of the protests--arresting peaceful protestors on the margins of the crowd, using the intelligence service to intimidate teachers, chastising parents for not controlling their children, threatening educational leaders with job loss for allowing students to protest, beating up journalists, forcing government workers to show up at pro- government rallies--are painting a picture of an undemocratic government out of touch with many of its citizens. Moldova seems

further away from becoming a modern European state, in line for EU membership, than it was a week ago.