Document #1258274
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
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)