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*From:* White House Press Office [mailto:noreply@messages.whitehouse.gov]
*Sent:* Friday, March 11, 2011 6:33 AM
*To:* Owens, Missy
*Subject:* Fw: Pool Report #1 -- Chisinau's Big Day


After gaining an hour on the clock, Air Force Two landed in sunny
Chisinau at 11:20. The weather is mercifully warmer than Moscow, and
VPOTUS was greeted with a ceremony steeped in spring. What looked like
a goodly chunk of the Moldovan military greeted the highest ranking
American ever to visit independent Moldova, the poorest country in
Europe. Soldiers in green uniforms, yellow tassels, black boots, and
outsized, Soviet-style caps stood rigidly as Prime Minister Vladimir
Filat, 41, wife Sasha Filat, daughter Iustina, Foreign Minister Iurie
Leanca, and U.S. Ambassador Asif Chaudhry greeted VPOTUS, SLOTUS, and
granddaughter Finnegan, who emerged at 11:25 waving. Finnegan and
Iustina appeared to be about the same age, BFF no doubt.

Five Moldovan children in native garb -- girls in braids, boy in fuzzy
fez, very Doctor Zhivago -- walked down the red carpet bearing
flowers, bread and salt. Ribbons given to VPOTUS signified the coming
of spring, Bread was dipped in salt and eaten, following a Moldovan
tradition. The military brass band played the Moldovan, then US
national anthems, as the soldiers stood in a salute that entailed
kissing guns and looking skyward.
Motorcade rolled at 11:35.

At first, only small clusters of Moldovans watched in front of
Soviet-era apartment blocs and barren fields. But as the motorcade
sped into city center, much of Chisinau appeared by the wide, main
boulevard, waving tiny American and Moldovan flags.

Pool was brought into the state residence called Iorga 23 and shown
into a conference room where VPOTUS and Company were meeting with
Filat and his government. Pleasantries were exchanged, the pool
quickly dismissed.

Pool is now holding before VPOTUS-Filat remarks and VPOTUS speech.

Jonathan Weisman
Wall Street Journal

_____________________________

Biden-Filat bilat

VPOTUS and Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat delivered statements to the
press at 1:10 pm, Chisinau time, speaking from side-by-side podiums before
the seal of Moldova, a crest of a bull's head embedded in an eagle bearing a
cross.

Through an interpreter, Filat began: "For the Republic of Moldova, it's a
historic day.

"The visit of the vice president of the United States marks a new beginning
of our bilateral relationship." He said the visit brings "greater prospects
for Moldova in building a true democracy."

It is clear that Scoop Jackson and Charles Vanik are very unpopular in this
part of the world, since Filat also offered his hope that the
"Vanik-Jackson" amendment be repealed. On that, he agrees with the Russians.

Regarding the little, break-away region in the center of his little country,
he said, "We do need the support of the United States in the settlement of
the Transnistrian conflict," which he called "this frozen conflict."

VPOTUS started with Japan -- see previous report. He said he was honored to
be the first VPOTUS to visit Moldova.
"This is to state the obvious a tumultuous time not only in the history of
the region but the history of the world," putting Moldova's moves toward
democracy and Europe in the context of other convulsions.

He said Filat had "reiterated his pledge to end sex trafficking once and for
all" and to prosecute the people "involved in this modern-day form of
slavery, and that's what it is, slavery."

He said "we believe Moldova's future lies with Europe."

"Formal negotiations with a real agenda should resume as soon as possible"
on Transnistria, toward "a settlement that preserves Moldova's sovereignty
and territorial integrity."

He made mention of the $262 million over five years pledged to Moldova
through the Millennium Challenge account.

He congratulated Filat on Moldova's 20th anniversary of independence.

Pool then rolled out to Opera Square, in front of the large, blockish opera
house, where a large outdoor crowd was rocking to a Moldovan band ahead of
VPOTUS's speech.

Jonathan Weisman
Wall Street Journal

______________________________________

File under "Who knew?"


VPOTUS spoke to a packed crowd that spilled out of Opera House Square
into the adjoining streets, telling several thousand that Moldova had
made significant contributions to American society. Rahm Emanuel, the
newly elected mayor of Chicago "says he inherited his legendary
toughness from his Moldovan grandfather," who was a labor leader.
Natalie Portman, with her newly minted Oscar, carries with her a photo
of her Moldovan grandmother, "and I know this isn't on the
teleprompter, but she's a heck of a lot better looking than Rahm
Emanuel."

The speech sought to put Moldova's democratic transition into a global
context. He said he was glad "to be here at this transformative moment
in your history and quite frankly the history of the world. Freedom is
in the air, and democracy is emerging in countries that for
generations have known nothing but authoritarian rule."

He hailed the Libyan people fighting for democratic rights against a
government that has turned to violence. He demanded basic rights and
"the immediate release of all political prisoners" in Belarus. He
talked up the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, Georgian independence, and
democracy in Egypt and Tunisia.

But most of the speech was boosting Moldova, split between old-line
communists trying to align a breakaway region, Transnistria, with
Russia, and Prime Minister Vlad Filat, pushing European integration.

"You know achieving democracy is not easy, but you also know it is
worth the struggle."

"As you continue on this journey, I promise you America will be your partner."

His biggest applause came with his promise of a quarter billion
dollars for agricultural assistance. He concluded, "You're a small
country, but you're tackling large, consequential problems head on.
... A better future is within your reach."

VPOTUS shook hands in front of the stage for quite some time before a
quick motorcade back to Iorga 23 to meet acting Moldova President
Marian Lupu.


Jonathan Weisman

Wall Street Journal-----


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