Foreign Affairs on March 15–28, 2006

Republic of Moldova — Council of Europe

PACE rapporteurs for Moldova Josette Durrieu and Egidijus Vareikis had a summarising meeting with the Moldovan president on March 16, mentioning the maintenance of political stability in the Republic of Moldova, a factor that essentially increases the chances of a successful implementation of the Moldova — E.U. Action Plan. The CoE representatives highlighted the need to speed up and intensify the activities of promotion and implementation of democratic reforms, which would allow Moldova to get rid of the CoE monitoring and to hold a higher level of cooperation within CoE’s structures. President Voronin has expressed gratitude to the PACE rapporteurs for their interest towards Moldova and assured them of the clear interest of authorities to meet the exigencies of the Council of Europe. The PACE rapporteurs told a conference held to summarise their monitoring visit that the drafting and implementation of a series of reforms by late July 2006 would allow Moldova to fulfil its commitments towards CoE.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has urged the Moldovan Government to present its observations over the case of the chairman of the Victoriabank Commercial Bank Board within maximum two months. The sides will be invited to comment their statements after the Government presents its arguments and the Court will decide on admissibility of this application.

The ECHR sentenced Moldova^[1] in two more cases on March 21:

the Court established pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages of over 11,000 euros for the case of Lupacescu and others vs. Moldova;
the Court established pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages of 18,000 euros for the case
of Josan vs. Moldova.

Representatives of the Metropolitan Church of Bessarabia have sued the Moldovan Government at ECHR for non-execution of a final judgment of the Moldovan Supreme Court of Justice which ruled that the Church Acoperamintul Maicii Domnului in Floresti is subordinated to the Metropolitan Church of Bessarabia. According to the secretary of the Metropolitan Church of Bessarabia, the Floresti public administration authorities ignore the ruling of the Supreme Court of Justice and try to pass the church concerned under subordination of the Metropolitan Church of Moldova. Representatives of the Floresti district administration say that they do not participate in this conflict, while the police interventions aim to ensure the public order and security of parishioners regardless of their religion.

Republic of Moldova — European Union

The European Parliament (EP) adopted a declaration on human rights in Moldova and, in particular in Transnistria, on March 16. The document says that the European Neighbourhood Policy recognises the European aspirations of Moldova and the E.U. has made important steps forward intensification of commitment towards the Republic of Moldova and identification of solutions to the Transnistrian conflict. The EP Resolution^[2]:

strongly condemns the repression, harassment and intimidation of representatives of the independent media, citizens criticising the self-proclaimed Transnistrian authorities, and members of NGOs and of the opposition by the Transnistrian regime;
calls on the Moldovan authorities to continue their efforts towards putting an end to the unlawful and arbitrary detention of Mr. Andrei Ivantoc and Mr. Tudor Petrov-Popa and securing their immediate release; strongly urges the Russian authorities to pursue actively all effective avenues capable of putting an end to the unlawful and arbitrary detention of both prisoners and of securing their immediate release;
asks the Moldovan authorities to ensure a transparent appeal procedure and in line with international legal norms while examining the case of former defence minister Valeriu Pasat;
expresses strong and continued support for Moldovan authorities’ efforts to implement the Action Plan as part of the E.U. Neighbourhood Policy, asks the European Commission and the Council of Europe to sustain the Moldovan authorities in the democratisation process and to use diplomatic means in order to weaken the illegal and authoritarian regime in Transnistria;
calls on the Moldovan Government to continue the process of reforms for progress of the state based on the rule of law and combat of corruption in state institutions, accordingly to commitments resulted from the Action Plan, and to increase the efforts against any manifestation of trafficking in human beings;
welcomes the cooperation between different political parties represented in the Moldovan Parliament; recognises the importance of reforms concerning independence of judiciary, security services, election legislation and Chamber of Auditors; calls for strengthening of the judicial system, stresses the importance of carrying out these and other reforms without delay;
welcomes the implementation of the Joint declaration of the Moldovan and Ukrainian prime ministers, calls on Transnistrian economic agents to register with the relevant authorities in Chisinau;
calls on Russia to immediately stop its support for the Transnistrian regime, to reaffirm its commitment to Moldova’s territorial integrity as defined by the Moldovan Constitution and to withdraw its troops, including their heavy weaponry and munitions, unconditionally, in line with the decisions of the 1999 OSCE Summit in Istanbul, etc.

The Foreign and European Integration Ministry released a declaration on March 20, appreciating the stance of the E.U., U.S. and OSCE concerning the implementation of the December 30 Joint Declaration of the Moldovan and Ukrainian premiers, welcoming the adopted standpoint and expressing deep gratitude for their support for Moldova’s efforts to settle the Transnistrian conflict on a peaceful way. The Moldovan Foreign and European Integration Ministry highlights the role of the Border Assistance Mission in the process of monitoring of the implementation of the Joint Declaration and development of an efficient and transparent border regime. The ministry reiterates that the joint actions of Moldova and Ukraine are part of the wish of both states to use the European standards in all fields, outlining their common aspirations for entry in the European community.

The fourth meeting of coordination of the E.U. Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine took place on March 23. The Mission head said that many attempts to smuggle cigarettes, drugs, frozen meat were disclosed in February, but these cases were insignificant and the situation is under control. It was announced that the customs services of Moldova and Ukraine will receive equipment and technical assistance for monitoring of the Trasnistrian section of the Moldovan-Ukrainian border.

Republic of Moldova — Romania

Radu de Hohenzollern-Veringen, special representative of the Romanian Government for Integration, Cooperation and Sustained Development, was on an official visit to Chisinau on March 14–17. Meetings of the envoy of the Romanian Government and a forum of businessmen that took place within the visit focussed, in particular, on bilateral commercial-economic cooperation, with Romanian businessmen expressing a special interest to collaborate with Moldovan partners, especially after the integration of the neighbouring states in the E.U. and appearance of new opportunities for development of economic relations. Prince Radu de Hohenzollern-Veringen has met with chairman and deputy chairman of the Parliament, prime minister, minister of economy and trade, defence minister while visiting Chisinau.

Vasile Blaga, Romanian minister of administration and interior, said that Moldovan citizens will be able to enter Romania with visas starting November 1, 2006. He delivered this statement at the ceremony of signing of the Protocol on Agreement of Readmission in the Republic of Moldova and Romania, with the Romanian minister saying that Romania has to introduce these measures “without any joy, on basis of commitments that it has assumed for entry in the E.U.” Blaga reiterated that the Romanian authorities put efforts to offer a preferential treatment for Moldovan citizens regarding visa issuing problem, so that not to restrict the freedom of move, noting that holders of diplomatic and service passports will not need visas. Representatives of the Moldovan Foreign and European Integration Ministry said meanwhile that the visa regime for Moldovans willing to travel to Romania will not be introduced earlier than on January 1, 2007. The head of the Directorate for Consular Affairs in the Foreign and European Integration Ministry said that a draft agreement on visa regime tabled by the Romanian side is being examined and approved.

The Protocol on implementation of the Readmission Agreement between Romania and the Republic of Moldova, which the interior ministers of the two countries signed on March 23, 2006, obliges Moldova to accept the readmission of its citizens and clandestine migrants if they were identified in Romania. The procedures may have a special significance after Romania’s integration in the E.U., this country becoming a destination for potential illegal migrants.

The Interior Minister of Moldova has asked his Romanian counterpart “to set up an efficient mechanism capable to prevent the awarding of Romanian citizenship on basis of fake acts.” Gheorghe Papuc envisaged applications of Moldovan-born crime leaders who aim to get rid of penal responsibility in Moldova. The two ministers agreed to work out an information exchange mechanism with the purpose to establish the truth of acts of Moldovan citizens.

Romanian Foreign Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu said that the apparent crisis in the Transnistrian region is a consequence of a false policy of the separatist regime. Ungureanu noted that the agreement between Ukraine and Moldova regarding control on commodity transit in the Transnistrian section of the state border brings light to a very difficult issue. He reiterated Romania’s dissatisfaction with the pace of the five-plus-two negotiations and noted that the E.U. shares this dissatisfaction.

Romanian President Traian Basescu said in Brussels, where he attended a meeting of the European People’s Party, that the integration of the Western Balkan countries and Moldova in the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) “is a solution that the European People’s Party regards as a means to speed up the preparation of these countries for integration in the E.U.”

Republic of Moldova — Russian Federation

Statements of the Russian Ambassador to Moldova

The Russian Ambassador to Moldova delivered some statements at a March 20 news conference which raised serious reactions from the Moldovan authorities and political forces. Nicolay Ryabov said among others that:

the Republic of Moldova is to blame for the start and the failure to settle the Transnistrian conflict;
the latest measures of Moldova have an impact on political and social situation in the separatist region, and security and stability in the entire region;
“The new customs regime implemented at the Moldovan-Ukrainian border affects directly the legitimate interests of Russia,” with this country following “recognised legitimate interests in the post-Soviet area and in the virtue of its status of great power.”
the measures taken by Moldovan authorities to regulate the external economic activity should “respect the previous understandings on Transnistria,” which was a “condition for Moldova’s admission in the World Trade Organisation”;
the Russian Federation proposes the suspension of the measures taken by Moldova and Ukraine to regulate the import-export operations of the Transnistria-based economic agents, elaboration of a system of guarantees “which could not be modified through unilateral actions”;
meeting between Moldovan and Russian presidents would be possible “after settlement of some problems laid on a common table, including on Transnistrian settlement”;
the problem of new natural gas prices has nothing in common with implementation of new regulations on crossing of the Moldovan-Ukrainian border because it has appeared much before introduction of these regulations.

Reacting to statements of the Russian ambassador, the PPCD parliamentary faction has proposed the Parliament to draft a declaration on attitude of Russia and its representative over relations with Moldova. Representatives of AMN and PCRM consider that the executive and the Foreign Ministry shall react to Ryabov’s statements. The Liberal Party has proposed to declare Ryabov as “persona non-grata” in the Republic of Moldovan and to change the Russian Federation’s status in the negotiation process into “side of the conflict”.

The Foreign and European Integration Ministry of Moldova has sent a letter to the Russian Foreign Ministry saying what it thinks about the statements of the Russian ambassador in Chisinau and asking its Russian counterpart if what Ryabov said is his personal vision or the stance of the Russian authorities. At the same time, Moldova’s Ambassador to Moscow Vasile Sturza was invited in Chisinau for consultations, discussing the Moldovan-Russian relations, including the statements of the Russian ambassador in Chisinau.

Blocking actions of the Russian Federation

The Russian State Duma has asked the committee for CIS affairs to ask information from the Russian Government and Foreign Ministry regarding the “possibility to introduce restrictions for migrants from Moldova and west of Ukraine.”

The chief state sanitary doctor of the Russian Federation has announced that Russia will take drastic measures against Moldovan and Georgian wine imports because “of some questions regarding the food security indexes.” Officials in charge with wine making sector and control on spirits, as well as Moldovan wine makers say that the statements of the Russian veterinary doctor are irresponsible because Moldova respects the standards, exigencies and norms for heavy metals, pesticides and other substances contained in spirits and Moldovan wines can claim the category of ecologically clean drinks, in compliance with European standards.

According to the Russian mass media, the Russian Union of Wine Makers and Vine Growers has asked the Russian Government to launch an anti-dumping investigation against Moldovan wines, while a request in this regard was delivered to the Russian premier and minister of economic development and trade. This NGO claims that the wines made in Moldova are unfairly competing on the Russian market and Moscow should increase the customs duties for these imports. According to officials of the Moldova-Vin Agency, the anti-dumping investigation would be “welcome because it would confirm the higher quality of Moldovan wines.”

Starting March 27, 2006, the Russian Federation restricted the importation of wines from Moldova and Georgia. The Moldovan authorities said that the interdiction has a political nature and noted that Moldova will not accept Russia’s entry in WTO as long as the restriction on importation of some products made in Moldova is in effect. A delegation from Moldova-Vin will negotiate the unblocking of Moldovan exports with the Russian authorities.

A delegation of the Moldovan Government including the chairmen of the joint stock society Moldova-Gaz is negotiating in Moscow the price for the natural gas that will be delivered to our country starting April 1.

Moldova in the world

The chairman of the Moldovan Socialist Party, former parliamentarian Victor Morev has been declared internationally wanted, being suspected of some corruption-related actions. According to a March 27 a communication of the Centre for the Struggle Against Economic Crimes and Corruption (CCCEC), Morev has brought a pecuniary damage of over 2 million lei to the state. CCCEC invokes the illicit sale of state property (land fields) by Morev through excess of authority while running the Balti City Hall. CCCEC noted that Morev has left the municipality immediately after the anti-corruption officers discovered his illegal actions and he was declared as internationally wanted.

Victor Morev was elected lawmaker in 1990–1995 (electoral bloc Socialist Party and Unitate-Yedinstvo Movement) and in 2001–2005 (electoral bloc Braghis Alliance), when he has left the parliamentary faction and became independent lawmaker, supporting however all initiatives and decisions of the parliamentary majority of PCRM.

↑ The overall amount of pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages established by ECHR for cases vs Moldovan Government exceeds 360,000 euros plus more than 30,000 euros in costs and expenses (see the Summary of ECHR judgments) (see the Summary of ECHR judgments)
↑ Published by the March 21 issue of the newspaper Moldova Suverana and the EP’s website

e-democracy.md