A 21 March 1992 Reuters report states that Romanian president Ion Iliescu offered on that day to assist Moldova in building up its armed forces but Iliescu stated that Romania would not get involved in the Moldovan ethnic conflict.

A 21 May 1992 Nezavismaya Gazeta report quotes Romania's president Ion Iliescu as stating, during a visit to Moldova on 18-19 May 1992, that rumours about the 1992 Romanian military involvement in the Moldovan conflict in 1992 were unfounded and that Romania was "only providing theoretical and material assistance in re-establishing the Moldovan national army."

The attached 31 May 1992 Agence France Presse (AFP) report quotes a Romanian Foreign Ministry statement confirming on that day that Romanian military equipment was supplied to Moldova. According to the statement, the equipment included "certain means of transport and pontoon bridges," supplied on "a commercial basis," but "supplies of other armoured technology" were excluded. The statement also denied the presence of military advisors on Romanian territory.

A 23 June 1992 article in The Washington Post quotes an Associated Press (AP) report (no date mentioned) that Romanian deputy foreign minister Theodor Melescanu confirmed the supply to Moldova of "40 armoured vehicles as well as arms and ammunition."

The attached 14 July 1992 Rossiyskaya Gazeta report states that a delegation of the US branch of the International Society for the Protection of Human Rights (ISPHR), which visited Moldova in 1992, including the Dniester region, concluded that the Romanian government was providing military assistance to "Moldovan extremists." The report states also that Romania is "offering wide-ranging support" to the government of Chisinau, including "various weapons munitions, and armoured vehicles."

The attached 15 December 1992 Xinhua report states that on that day Romania and Moldova signed a defence cooperation pact under which Romania would provide military equipment to the Moldovan army and training to its officers.

A 23 March 1993 Romanian Radio broadcast reported that a Romanian army press office's denied that Romania intended to join Moldova in joint military exercises. The press office stated that there were no accords between the two countries armed forces that would permit these military exercises.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 31 May 1992. "Romania Defends Right to Send Military Supplies to Moldova." (NEXIS)

Nezavisimaya Gazeta [Moscow]. 21 May 1992. Alexsandr Tago. "Ion Iliescu Disappoints Supporters of the Unification of Moldova and Romania." (Current Digest of the Soviet Press 17 June 1992/NEXIS)

Radio Bucharest. 23 March 1993. "Romanian Army Denies Joint Military Exercises Are Planned with Moldovan Forces." (BBC Summary 26 Mar. 1993/NEXIS)

Reuters. 21 March 1992. BC Cycle. Adrian Dalascu. "Romania Offers to Help Moldova Set Up Army." (NEXIS)

Rossiyskaya Gazeta [Moscow]. 14 July 1992. First edition. Dimitriy Fedorov. "Human Rights Agency Accuses Kishinev of 'Romanization of Dnester'." (BBC Summary 16 July 1992/NEXIS)

The Washington Post. 23 June 1992. Final edition. Margaret Shapiro. "Moldova Accuses Russia of Waging 'Undeclared War." (NEXIS)

Xinhua General Overseas News Service 15 December 1992. "Romania and Moldova Sign Defence Cooperation Pact." (NEXIS)

Attachments

Agence France Presse (AFP). 31 May 1992. "Romania Defends Right to Send Military Supplies to Moldova." (NEXIS)

Rossiyskaya Gazeta [Moscow]. 14 July 1992. First edition. Dimitriy Fedorov. "Human Rights Agency Accuses Kishinev of 'Romanization of Dnester'." (BBC Summary 16 July 1992/NEXIS)

Xinhua General Overseas News Service 15 December 1992. "Romania and Moldova Sign Defence Cooperation Pact." (NEXIS)