Foreign Affairs on January 16–31, 2006

The Republic of Moldova — Council of Europe

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has issued a new verdict on sanctioning of Moldova for failure to execute a decision regarding citizen Serghei Popov, whose real estate properties confiscated during the 1941 political reprisals were not returned. As the judgments of national courts and ECHR have not been executed for a long time, Popov, 80, will receive another over 14,000 euros from Moldovan Government, while the executive was obliged to ensure the retrocession of the real estate concerned.

The Republic of Moldova — European Union

Vladimir Voronin said that the implementation of the Moldova-E.U. Action Plans depends in a big measure on accomplishment of the historical chance of Moldova to join the European community. Foreign and European Integration Minister Andrei Stratan told a sitting on implementation of the Moldova-E.U. Action Plan that 2006 is a year of crucial importance for accomplishment of this plan and for “obtaining of the quality of associated member or candidate country to entry in the E.U.” The chief of state asked decision-making officials to adopt a firm and very responsible stance aimed to ensure a considerable progress in fulfilment of all chapters of the Action Plan, especially those related to respect for human rights, principles of the state based on the rule of law, functioning of democratic institutions, reiterating in this regard the need to honour the commitments that Moldova has assumed towards the Council of Europe, with this fields being the most important component of European integration. The Moldovan president opted for elimination of visa regime for E.U. citizens who visit the Republic of Moldova, an action that representatives of opposition parliamentary factions suggest for quite a long time.

Moldovan officials delivered statements in that period, when European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said that “the E.U. will need time after the entry of candidate states, in order to accept new countries.” The European official noted that some time will pass after the entry of Bulgaria and Romania in 2007 and probable integration of Croatia until other candidate states “will fulfil the admission criteria.”

The chairman for energy affairs of the E.U. Council of Ministers, minister of economy of Austria, said that Moldova and Russia must urgently resume negotiations and try to reach a long-term and perspective agreement on natural gas supply. The E.U. is unsatisfied that the sides have signed a cooperation agreement for only several months and the situation could destabilise again. At the same time, energy officials in the European Commission said that the E.U. considers the gas providing problem as “an issue related to bilateral relations and that’s why it will maintain its neutrality,” being ready to help the determination of a mutually advantageous solution. It should be noted in the context that an official of the general directorate for energy and transportation of the European Commission said while on an assessment mission to Chisinau that the European Commission will draft a special report on energy situation of Moldova.

The head of the E.U. observation mission to the Moldovan-Ukrainian border has positively evaluated the start of cooperation procedures in the area, but noted that Moldova and Ukraine need 7–10 years to reach the European standards. Representatives of customs structures of Moldova and Ukraine commented differently the situation at the border in connection with the transit of Transnistrian goods without customs documents and stamps of Moldova. Representatives of Moldova describe these measures as smuggling, while representatives of Ukraine consider that this is not contraband because “the Ukrainian checkpoints verify all the goods.”

The Republic of Moldova — Romania

Romanian President Traian Basescu has delivered a series of statements on cooperation with the Republic of Moldova at a meeting with foreign diplomats in Bucharest. The Romanian chief of state considers that the E.U. could tackle the problem of what he describes “route paper” for the Republic of Moldova, similar to the one offered to the states from Western Balkans. Also, Basescu said that 2005 meant the relaunch of Moldovan-Romanian bilateral relations, starting from the principle: “one nation in two distinct states” and “the unification of Romanian nation can be done inside the European Union.” Speaking about perspectives of year 2006, Traian Basescu highlighted the need of more attention of the E.U. and NATO to the Black Sea area and support for the project on creation of a Pontiac Euroregion.

Traian Basescu told the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe that the European orientation of the Republic of Moldova is a priority of Romania and the Romanian state authorities have pledged to back Moldova’s efforts in acting in compliance with European standards, contributing to strengthening of regional security. The Romanian president indicated the Transnistrian problem in the security context, saying that this is “a direct threat against territorial integrity of Moldova” and “it burdens the normal evolution off Moldovan state.”

Romanian Foreign Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu delivered firm statements regarding the imminent introduction of the visa regime for Moldovan citizens on December 31, 2006, but assured that it will be “flexible and relaxed,” being a premiere for all E.U. states. The Romanian foreign minister noted that the Republic of Moldova has become an important topic of interior and foreign policy of Romania and it is essential that our country “invest political trust in Romania, because this is the only chance of political and economic survive — the chance of the Republic of Moldova is called Romania,” since Romania must become the neighbour from the E.U. for the Republic of Moldova starting 2007. Ungureanu confirmed the existence of a Transnistrian settlement plan in the Romanian Foreign Ministry, but its details remain discrete until the Bucharest authorities will consider that the document should be proposed or tabled to the public for talks.

The Republic of Moldova — Russian Federation

The Moldovan Foreign and European Integration Ministry sent a note to the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation on January 19, 2006, in which it expressed a decisive protest against inadmissible manifestations and direct threats of RAO “EAS Rossii” chairman Anatoli Chubais against Moldovan president. The Moldovan ministry asked the Russian authorities to present explanations over this case, in line with international rules. The Russian Foreign Ministry did not reply to the note of the Moldovan authorities so far, but the information and press department of this ministry released a commentary on January 21, 2006, regarding the judgment on the case of former defence minister Valeriu Pasat. It noted that the Russian public opinion has monitored this lawsuit and the sentence is too harsh.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov delivered statements on relations with Moldova at a news conference on January 17, 2006. Moscow insists on settlement of the Transnistrian conflict through a direct dialogue between sides and demands the “democratisation of Transnistria and Moldova.” Describing the adoption of the law on basic principles of special juridical status of Moldova’s eastern breakaway enclave of Transnistria as “unilateral”, the Russian minister considers that some measures of the Chisinau authorities delay the conflict resolution through negotiations. Lavrov reiterated the need to resume talks regarding the “joint agreements on federalisation of Moldova.”

Moldova in the world

The Republic of Moldova has paid a part of its debts to the United Nations and regained the right to vote in the U.N. Parliamentary Assembly. Moldova was also due to pay the membership fee for this year by late January. The January 19, 2006 Government Decision # 54 confirms that Moldova owed over 96,000 dollars to the U.N. on January 1, 2006 and it is due to pay 32,000 dollars for the membership fee for this year, an amount that Moldova will transfer to the U.N. budget in 2006. The debts of Moldova towards different international organisations are estimated at over 300 million lei (more than 23 million dollars).

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