Foreign Affairs on November 16 – December 1, 2006

Republic of Moldova — Council of Europe

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE) continued debates in November regarding the execution of the European Court of Human Rights’ judgment on “Ilascu and others vs Moldova and Russia”. The Finnish Delegation reiterated concerns on behalf of the European Union Presidency with non-settlement of this case and called upon denounced countries to take all measures needed for the immediate release of Andrei Ivantoc and Tudor Petrov-Popa. Finland’s representative reiterated that the delayed definitive execution of this judgment torpedoes the authority of CoE and the credibility of the continental human rights system. Also, the Finnish Delegation asked on behalf of E.U. member states the delivery of the 4th Interim Resolution on Ilascu case to the United Nations and the OSCE, but a decision on this issue was postponed for December 6 at the request of the Russian Delegation.

A meeting between Moldovan Speaker Marian Lupu and a delegation of the CoE secretary-general headed by Director-General for Political Affairs Jean-Louis Laurens has focussed on Moldova-CoE relations. The CoE functionary welcomed the efforts of the Moldovan Parliament’s leadership for implementing the programme of legislative actions on Moldova’s commitments toward CoE. Jean-Louis Laurens noted progresses in cooperation with civil society, judicial reform, anti-corruption struggle. The sides discussed eventual components and priorities of the next assistance document of European organisations.

The ECHR has accepted to examine urgently the applications of three Romanian-language schools from Transnistria, which accuse the Moldovan and Russian Governments of violation of fundamental rights, including the right to education and non-discrimination. Ion Manole, chairman of the association Promo-Lex, which represents the Transnistrian educational institutions in front of ECHR, has stated to Infotag news agency that two schools, the Evrica lycee in Ribnita and Alexandru cel Bun lycee in Bender, have applied to the ECHR in 2004, when the Tiraspol separatist regime prohibited their activity because they were not registered again. The Grigoriopol school applied to the ECHR this year. Manole noted that the ECHR has accepted to examine the two applications “due to situation of the Grigoriopol school, as fundamental human rights at this institution are systematically violated for many years.” Governments of Moldova and Russia must present observations on the two cases to the ECHR by December 14. Representatives of the three schools accuse Russia of violating their rights because it has contributed to appearance and maintenance of the separatist regime in Tiraspol. The Moldovan Government is accused of incapacity to guarantee fundamental human rights in the republic, with the Transnistrian region being part of the Republic of Moldova.

Republic of Moldova — European Union

The trilateral meeting E.U.-Moldova-Ukraine on border problems finished in Brussels on November 22. Participants debated issues related to cooperation with the E.U. Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) to Moldova and Ukraine, joint border control, demarcation of the border between the two states. The Moldovan Border Guard Service and the Administration of the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service have signed a protocol on exchange of information about border problems in presence of the European commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, in Brussels.

Odessa hosted the 4th meeting of the EUBAM Consultative Council on November 30, which brought together officials of foreign ministries, customs and border guard services of Ukraine and Moldova, representatives of the E.U. Presidency and the European Commission, EUBAM, the OSCE Mission to Moldova, the International Organisation for Migration, E.U. special representative for Moldova. General Ferenz Banfi, EUBAM head, unveiled a report on the first year of activity of EUBAM. Participants appreciated the actions that contribute to a better control at the Moldova-Ukraine border and saluted the adequate implementation of the December 30, 2005 Joint Declaration, protocols on exchange of information between customs and border guards services of Moldova and Ukraine. Members of the Consultative Council supported the continued implementation of assistance projects and initiatives of EUBAM for 2007 regarding participation of law structures from both states in investigating border offences, intensification of cooperation with E.U. agencies (FRONTEX, EUROPOL, etc.), better cooperation in migration problems, as well as launching of a public information campaign against corruption.

Moldova exported goods worth about 240 million dollars to the E.U. in the first nine months of this year, by 6.5 percent more than in the similar period of last year. According to data of the National Bureau for Statistics, Moldova’s exports to the United Kingdom rose roughly three-fold in January-September 2006, France — 1.7-fold, Slovakia by 35.2 percent, Poland by 18 percent. Food products, drinks and tobacco, textiles and items, vegetal products, footwear are main groups of goods exported to the E.U. At the same time, Moldovan economic agents have imported goods worth about 560 million dollars from E.U., by 6 percent more than in the similar period of 2005.

Republic of Moldova — Romania

Romanian President Traian Basescu has stated to the German publication Frankfurter Rundschau that Romania wants to persuade E.U. members to include Moldova in the accession package for the Western Balkans. Moldovan Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Andrei Stratan has described the statement of Basescu as “very important”, noting that it comes to support the efforts of Moldovan authorities. Speaking about Romania’s support in the E.U. accession process, Stratan said that Moldova relies on assistance of all E.U. member states and “Romania’s assistance is normal and it should do this. We would also ask other E.U. member states to share Romania’s stance in order to include Moldova in the South-East European package of accession to the European community.”

The Romanian ambassador to Moldova, Filip Teodorescu, has told a news conference dedicated to the National Day of Romania that relations between Romania and Moldova cannot be but of privileged partnership and the support for Moldova will have a special meaning once Romania joins the E.U. “We are sure that Moldova deserves a European destiny. The commitment to support it in order to be witnesses of a successful transformation of this country and its readjustment to European values results from this profound conviction,” Teodorescu noted. He underlined that Romania supports the implementation of the Moldova-E.U. Action Plan, starting from immediate priorities of Chisinau and modalities of support that Romania can offer.

At the same time, the Romanian ambassador raised concern with the low number of Moldovan citizens who apply for visas to travel to Romania starting January 1, 2007. Teodorescu noted that the consulate receives daily about 50–70 individual and collective applications from Moldovan citizens who are used to celebrate the winter holidays (old style) in Romania and “there are grounds to believe that the number of visa applications will grow very much in the last days of December and this fact would create big difficulties to functionaries of the consulate, who will not manage to issue visas in 2–5 days or urgently.” The Romanian ambassador underlined that the Embassy has taken the necessary diligences to open two general consulates in Cahul and Balti as soon as possible and it expects the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration to allow logistic measures in order to open the two consulates. “The rapid opening of these representations also depends on prompt reactions of the Chisinau authorities,” the Romanian ambassador added.

According to findings of recent surveys, a considerable number of Moldovans want to obtain Romanian citizenship, but a relatively low number declare themselves Romanians. According to the Barometer of Public Opinion for November 2006 conducted by the Institute of Marketing and Surveys IMAS-INC Chisinau, 51 percent of Moldovan population wants to gain Romanian citizenship, while only 14 percent declare themselves Romanians; 85 percent of the number of persons who want to regain the Romanian citizenship intend to use it in order to leave for abroad, while every fifth respondent said that he would have the possibility to work in Romania legally this way. One percent of the interviewed persons said that they hold Romanian passports, while 8 percent consider that it will be harder to obtain Romanian passports after Romania joins the E.U. According to the Barometer of Public Opinion conducted by the Centre of Sociology of Communities of Gender Researches (CSCSG) and commissioned by the Institute of Public Policies, about 18 percent of respondents have already applied for regaining of Romanian citizens, while 10 percent hold passports.

According to a communication by the Romanian Border Police, a network of Romanian traffickers who have recruited Moldovan nationals for work in the Schengen area was annihilated. The five members of the network of traffickers are suspected of having eased the fraudulent passage of Moldovan and Romanian citizens on basis of fake Romanian travel documents. It was established after investigations that the network of traffickers has worked starting 2002 and it trafficked at least 20 Moldovan and Romanian citizens. Eight Moldovans have been recently held at the Romanian-Hungarian border when they were trying to cross illegally the border near the Bors Customs, being guided by a Moldovan national by telephone to travel to Italy for work.

Republic of Moldova — Russian Federation

Russian and Moldovan presidents have agreed on problems related to deliveries of Moldovan agricultural products and wines to the Russian market, discussed issues linked to cooperation in energy sector, but without clear results. They discussed the Transnistrian settlement in general, appreciating joint efforts aimed at resuming the political negotiations in the previous format.

The 8th sitting of the Moldovan-Russian intergovernmental commission for economic and commercial cooperation has signed several documents, notably on cooperation in humanitarian sector for 2007; on cooperation between ministries in charge with training and education; between academies of sciences; regulation of problems of state internal currency debt of the former USSR and regulation of Moldova’s debt toward the Russian Federation. Zinaida Greceanii, head of the commission on behalf of Moldova, said that the talks have been constructive and the Moldovan side hopes to find sustainable and convenient solutions to the problems of natural gas price and resumption of wine exports by the end of this year.

Moldovan Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev has said that our country wants that the Russian Federation join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as soon as possible, but certain bilateral problems especially those related to cooperation in the energy sector should be resolved first. The procedure of paying VAT for the imported gas at destination (Moldova), accordingly to WTO norms, is an aspect of principle.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigori Karasin met Transnistrian “president” Igor Smirnov on November 18. According to an official communication by the Russian Foreign Ministry, the sides tackled the situation in the region and the Transnistrian settlement, taking into account the “obstacles for resumption of the dialogue created by unilateral measures of interdiction applied against Transnistria-based economic agents.” They also examined issues related to implementation of previous agreements reached at level of Russian Government, development of interdepartmental cooperation. The sides outlined Russia’s intention to provide in continuation the maximum necessary support to restore the confidence climate and reduce the confrontation between the sides participating in the Transnistrian conflict, in the spirit of activation of the Russian-Moldovan dialogue. Smirnov informed Russian authorities over preparation of elections in the region, at which he will compete for a new presidential mandate.

Moldova in the world

The agreement on restructuring of Moldova’s foreign debt in the amount of 15.4 million dollars toward Japan was signed. The bilateral document stipulates the restructuring of Moldova’s debt toward Japan till 2022, in line with provisions of the protocol on restructuring of foreign debt, which the Paris Club Creditors and Moldovan Government signed in May 2006. Chisinau has recently agreed to restructuring of foreign debts in the amount of about 14 dollars toward another two external creditors, Italy and the United States. The date of signing of agreements with the Russian Federation and Germany will be established soon.

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