Foreign Affairs on August 31 – September 12, 2005

| e-journal #57 |

A delegation of legislators headed by Speaker Marian Lupu flew to New York to take part in the World Conference of Parliament Speakers on September 7–9. A reunion of Presidents and Prime-ministers is to follow on September 14–19. The conference hosted by UN looked at multilateral cooperation, activity of international organizations, cooperation between Inter-parliamentary Union and UN, etc. As part of the event Speakers of the GUAM member states had a separate meeting.
In addition Marian Lupu met Boris Gryzlov, Speak of the Russian State Duma. The Two talked problems in the relations between the countries and how closer ties between the legislative bodies might contribute to their resolution. Transdnistrian issue was also high on the agenda.
Same time, another legislative delegation including Deputy Speaker Maria Postoico and leader of the Christian-Democrat faction in Parliament Vlad Cubreacov (both members of the Republic of Moldova permanent delegation to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly) attended the sessions of the PACE Monitoring Commission held in Antalya, Turkey. Moldovan delegation presented a report on the progress made in complying with the obligations assumed when Republic of Moldova joined Council of Europe and the recommendations made by the Monitoring Commission. The reunion is to pass a draft resolution on the functioning of democratic institutions in the Republic of Moldova, to be later approved by the PACE. Noteworthy, PACE representatives pointed to the need of amending Republic of Moldova law on the status of magistrates, functioning of the Supreme Magistracy Council, change the status of the prosecution, revise the law on the public broadcasting, political parties, pass a new law on religious cults and improve the law enforcement.
Republic of Moldova and US signed an Agreement on opening and funding a Center to fight trafficking in human beings. US would provide about 2 million USD for witness protection programs. The project is part of a set of initiatives aimed at fighting trafficking in human beings announced by the US at the UN General Assembly in 2003.
In 1998 Republic of Moldova passed a Law on State Protection of the Victims, Witnesses and other Persons Cooperating with the Investigation, however its enforcement was stymied by the lack of funds and poor technical base. There is no law regulating fighting human trafficking, a draft in this respect was passed in the first reading.
By the end of the year, European Union would provide the assistance necessary for monitoring Moldovan-Ukrainian border by European observers. The status and mandate of the mission shall be outlined in a Memorandum, submitted for review to Chisinau and Kiev. The monitoring mission shall work on the Transdnistrian section of the border and shall oversee all the procedures from customs to border control.
Center for Fighting Economic Crime and Corruption of the Republic of Moldova signed a Cooperative Agreement on fighting money laundering with the Romanian National Office for fighting money laundry. Moldova adopted the Law on Fighting Money Laundry at the request of specialized international bodies. It provides for a special control mechanism in the field working closely with fiscal bodies and law enforcement forces.
According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration the situation in Ukraine would not affect the bilateral relations between the two countries. The Minister saw the Governmental crisis as a simple reshuffle that would not affect the cooperation in areas of mutual interest, specifically resolution of the Transdnistrian conflict.
Noteworthy, the relations between Kiev and Tiraspol had its ups and downs, initially Kiev was supportive of Chisinau, later on it took a more neutral stance after Igor Smirnov’s visit to Kiev. Experts reckon the changes are largely due to the commercial interests Pyotr Poroshenko, recently ousted Secretary of the Ukrainian Security Council, group has in Transdnistria.

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Foreign Affairs on August 31 – September 12, 2005

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