Wikileaks - XLIV

Friday, 02 September, Year 3 d.Tr. | Author: Mircea Popescu
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    SIPDIS

    STATE FOR EUR/NCE - WSILKWORTH

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2016
    TAGS: ENRG, ECON, UP, RS, RO
    SUBJECT: ROMANIA: DEMARCHE ON RUSSIA-UKRAINE GAS
    NEGOTIATIONS DELIVERED

    REF: STATE 17066

    Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Mark Taplin for reasons 1.4 (b), (d)

1. (C) On February 2, EmbOffs delivered reftel talking points to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General for Enlarged Europe Razvan Rusu. Rusu agreed that transparency is needed in the Russia-Ukraine gas deal. However, he stated that this issue should be part of a comprehensive approach to Ukraine to encourage it to adopt a more transparent and predictable approach in all of its economic and political activities. Rusu did not offer any new insight on the details of the gas deal or the role of RosUkrEnergo (RUE) but promised to contact Romania\'s Ambassador to Ukraine.

2. (C) Econoff delivered same reftel points on February 6 to Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) State Secretary Virgil Crecana, in charge of natural gas policy. While Crecana had no further details, he agreed that RUE\'s role in the deal would be problematic if allegations of criminal connections are true. He added that he had never heard such stories. Crecana in turn urged the USG to support Romania in its territorial dispute with Ukraine over Snake Island and demarcation of the maritime boundary. Resolving the matter would remove a serious barrier to offshore exploration, he said. (N.B. The MEC is controlled by the smallest member of the governing coalition, the Conservative Party, which represents Romania\'s own oligarchic interests. Recently criticized by President Basescu for overly close ties to \"special interests,\" MEC officials may be less inclined to advocate for transparency in energy policy.)

3. (U) AmEmbassy Bucharest,s reporting telegrams are available on the Bucharest SIPRNet website: www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/bucharest
TAUBMAN

Category: Breaking News
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