Foreign Affairs on August 1–31, 2006

Republic of Moldova — Council of Europe

On August 8, the European Court of Human Rights sentenced Moldova again in the case Ermicev vs Moldova (violation of Article 6 — right to a fair trial). The plaintiff has complained of annulment of a final judgment in his favour regarding a real estate deal. The ECHR observed that a higher jurisdiction has annulled a final and mandatory judgment awarding victory to the plaintiff after a revision procedure based on an appeal of the prosecutor who does not fall under any term and, therefore, the decisions may be permanently discussed. The plaintiff has faced a legal uncertainty for a long period after annulment and so the legal security principle and the right to access to a law court were violated. The Court considers that the sums awarded to the plaintiff under this judgment may be considered goods and the annulment of the final judgment is an attempt on the plaintiff’s right to respect for his estate. Thus, the Court ruled the violation of Article 1 from Protocol 1 to the Convention. The ECHR ruled that the plaintiff receive 29,000 euros, which covers the market price of his apartment in litigation, 2,465 euros in pecuniary damage, 2,000 euros in non-pecuniary damage and 300 euros in costs and expenses.

Republic of Moldova — European Union

The European Commission has decided to release a 10-million-euro financial aid to Moldova to support the budgetary balance and to ensure the food security. The grant within this programme will account for 9.2 million euros, while the remaining amount will be a technical credit released under preferential conditions. The money will be spent to sustain the agriculture, for social protection, modernisation of management of public finances.

The special representative of the E.U. for Moldova, Adriaan Jacobovits de Szeged, has held consultations on the Transnistrian problem with officials of the Russian Foreign Ministry. According to a representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the E.U. dignitary “was informed about Russia’s efforts to maintain the stability” in the Transnistrian region, actions aimed “to persuade the conflicting sides to adopt a stance capable to contribute to the conflict resolution.” The sides opted for respect for the OSCE principles on settlement of local conflicts and taking of completions to the documents adopted earlier by participants in the Transnistrian settlement process into consideration.

The E.U. has allocated a 34-million-euro grant to Romania within a transborder cooperation programme. Seven million euros out of this grant will be spent for the neighbourhood programme between Romania and Moldova. The Mediafax news agency reported that the funds aims to support the economic development of border areas of Romania, in cooperation with border regions of neighbouring countries, by intensifying the transborder cooperation between public and private sectors and between persons.

The findings of a recent survey by the European Commission (Eurobarometre) reveal that a relative majority (45%) of the E.U. population supports the enlargement, but a high number (42%) of respondents do not warm it. The ten new member states support the enlargement very much.

Republic of Moldova — Romania

On August 13, the Romanian president delivered a series of statements on relations with Moldova, when he attended the opening of a summer school for youth called Romanian Community and European Entity, at the Eforie resort. He said that the Romanian Parliament will receive two draft laws on Romanians from outside by late September: a law on awarding of Romanian citizenship and a draft law on Romanians from other countries. Traian Basescu noted that he intends to speed up the awarding of Romanian citizenship to ethnic Romanians who reside neighbouring states, so that they be able to benefit of advantages of Romania’s entry in the E.U. He underlined that the Romanian Foreign Ministry is waiting for as many as possible projects from Romanians from other countries in order to finance them. According to press releases, the Romanian president criticised the policy of Chisinau aimed “to mystify the history and culture,” “to deny the Romanian language,” etc.

Romanian Foreign Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu has said at the summer school of TNL in Mamaia that Moldova should have a “pragmatic thinking”, as Romania is the European chance of Moldova. According to the Mediafax news agency, the “problem of Bucharest-Chisinau relations is treated with maturity and fewer emotions,” with the Romanian authorities being interested in supporting “a democratic evolution in Moldova.” Ungureanu reiterated that Romania is the European chance of Moldova because it is the only member state of the E.U. with which Moldova will share a border. As regards the “Transnistrian issue”, the Romanian foreign minister said that Romania analyses the “potential danger of existence of an illegitimate zone at only 200–300 kilometres from border” and solutions to such a problem are being considered, but Chisinau does not show opening in this respect.

The Romanian foreign minister has stated at a TV programme on the TV channel Realitatea TV that Moldova and Romania are two sovereign states with one nation and the dialogue between the two countries are not held from arrogant positions. Mihai Ravan Ungureanu noted that a more intensive cooperation is discussed at all meetings with Moldovan officials, aimed to speed up the European route of Moldova, denying the statements that an offer seeking the merger of the two states was launched. According to the ministry, Bucharest respects the territorial integrity of the neighbouring state and proposes only help for European integration. Ungureanu stressed that Romania could be a good neighbour and ally of Moldova for integration into the E.U., with Bucharest standing ready to provide assistance for adjustment of legislation and avoidance of some mistakes in the process of approaching the E.U. He evoked the quality of institutions in charge with integration among main current problems of Moldova.

Romanian Defence Minister Teodor Atanasiu has told the summer school of PNL that the relations between Romania and Moldova are pretty cold “because the Chisinau authorities do not consider Romanians brothers.” The minister added that Romania has managed to persuade the ally countries both at the E.U. and NATO levels that the solution to Transnistria cannot be the same as to Kosovo and a single solution to conflicts from the European region must not exist.

Romanian Minister of Economy and Trade Codrut Seres stated that Moldova has asked Romania to deliver electricity in 2006–2007 for emergencies. The Romanian authorities have received the request of Moldova but they avoid responding so far. The minister noted that Moldova owes about 30 million euros to Romania for previous electricity deliveries.

Republic of Moldova — Russian Federation

Moldova’s debt toward the Russian Federation amounted to 144 million dollars on January 1, 2006. The basic debt is 122 million dollars, while the interest afferent to loans accounts for 22.6 million dollars. Moldovan minister of finance said that the debts toward Russia are loans released to the Chisinau government starting 1992–1993 to pay for energy resources. Pop noted that 30 million dollars out of the total debt represents loans granted to Transnistria, but Chisinau has assumed these debts in exchange for Moscow’s consent to restructure bilateral debts via the Paris Creditors Club. He added that the Moldovan government will negotiate soon with the Russian authorities the revision of interests on some debts toward Russia.

The Transnistrian mass media said that the electoral commission in Tiraspol has discussed the preparation for the September 17 referendum on relations with Moldova. The commission considers that a polling station could open in the representation of the unrecognised Transnistrian Republic in Moscow.

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Mikhail Kaminin, has summarised the bilateral relations with Moldova in an interview with the RIA Novosti news agency. According to Kaminin, Russia continues to be one of main commercial-economic partners of Moldova, as this country covers about 22 percent of the volume of external economic activities of Moldova. In January-May 2006, the cargo transportation dropped by 4 percent, compared with the similar period of 2005, down to 375.6 million dollars, while the main factors that influenced the reduction of Russian imports in Moldova included the decline of exports of alcohol drinks (by 39 percent) and of ferrous metals from Transnistria (by 54 percent). Russia’s investments in Moldova’s economy exceed 200 million dollars and more than 400 enterprises with participation of Russian capital are registered in Moldova. The Russian official considers that the common vector of development of Russian-Moldovan cooperation does not correspond to the strategic partnership and a clear political willingness for a long-perspective activity; constructive approach of problems based on respect for reciprocal interests must help combat the negative trends.

The Russian mass media has quoted the head of the Russian sanitary service Rospotrebnadzor, Gennady Onishchenko, as saying that only quality production of Georgian and Moldovan winemakers will be on sale in Russia, while the counterfeited wines will not be accepted on Russian market. Onishchenko noted that “good, quality wines only will come back, if they are accepted.” According to Onishchenko, analyses revealed that 9 out of 10 bottles on sale were counterfeited and 57 percent of Moldovan wines and cognacs tested at Russian laboratories unfit the sanitary norms. For these reasons, more than 100,000 litres of wines imported from Moldova have been in Moscow alone.

Moldova in the world

Experts of the State of World Liberty Agency have released a new World Liberty Index, with Moldova being ranked the 93rd place among 159 states.

According to a report released by International Crisis Group on August 17, Moldova’s future is uncertain. The document reveals that the Chisinau governance has posted little willingness to eradicate corruption and to improve the business climate, and it seems that its policy on Transnistria is based on rhetoric rather than on a commitment. International experts recommend the E.U. to provide more technical assistance for implementation of reforms in Moldova, with the condition that our country demonstrates a real willingness to use this support efficiently.

Israel’s Parliament (Knesset) has created the Parliamentary Friendship League Israel-Moldova. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, the Friendship League will be headed by Moldovan-born politician Avigdor Liberman, chairman of the Party Israel — Our Home.

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