Foreign Affairs on February 17 – March 4, 2007

Republic of Moldova — Council of Europe

According to the Organisation Lawyers for Human Rights, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) sentenced Moldova in two more cases on February 27, 2007. The Strasbourg-based Court sentenced the Chisinau authorities for violation of the right to a fair trial, freedom of thinking, consciousness and religion, right to protection of property and ban of discrimination.

The applicant claimed in the first case Moldovahidromas vs Moldova that Moldova had violated its right to a fair trial and the right to respect for goods by annulling an October 1992 final judgment. The ECHR will establish pecuniary, non-pecuniary damages and costs and expenses under a distinct judgment.

In the second case True Orthodox Church of Moldova and others vs Moldova, some Moldovan citizens have complained of authorities’ refusal to register the applicant church. The ECHR told the Government to pay 10,000 euros in non-pecuniary and pecuniary damages and 2,000 euros in costs and expenses to parishioners.

According to a statement by Vladimir Ristovski, special representative of the Council of Europe Secretary General in Chisinau, an adequate solution capable to ensure an independent editorial policy and autonomous functioning should be found for the Antena C and Euro TV channels in the context of forthcoming local elections. Ristovski noted that the reorganisation of the two broadcasters should not affect the fundamental right to freedom of expression and information, so that the public be not deprived of alternative information sources. In the context, Ristovski is sure that legal authorities will give an adequate response by applying the principle of supremacy of the law as regards the legality of the decision by the Chisinau Municipal Council on reorganisation of local public broadcasting services.

Republic of Moldova — European Union

2nd anniversary of EUMAP

Moldovan Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Andrei Stratan held a news conference on February 22, 2007, on occasion of the 2nd anniversary of the E.U.-Moldova Action Plan (EUMAP), and made the totals of the process of implementation of EUMAP. He noted that Moldova is “on the last 100 meters” in implementing this document and most of tasks from this document have already been fulfilled.

Minister Stratan named among key accomplishments the full rights membership of Moldova to the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP); joining to CEFTA; abolition of death penalty; reform of Election Code; adoption of a new Broadcasting Code; cooperation with civil society, etc. On the other hand, the main drawbacks in implementing the EUMAP were also outlined. They are generally linked to implementation of reforms and laws. Minister Stratan said in this context that the existing deficiencies will be the object of Government’s serious concerns in 2007, and noted that the executive approved an action plan in this respect on February 3. According to Stratan, a task book indicating the main actions for 2007 was worked out for every ministry.

Generalising the priority actions for 2007, Stratan revealed among others the permanent diversification of political dialogue with E.U. member states and institutions; gaining of autonomous trade preferences; implementation of the European integration communication and information strategy; extension of mandate of the E.U. Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) to Moldova and Ukraine, etc. Once it implements the EUMAP, Stratan continued, Moldova will want to sign with E.U. a document similar to those guiding the course of relations between E.U. and the Western Balkans. The name of the document will not be very important in this case, but it must award the same prospects to E.U. candidates.

As regards the opening of the joint European visa issuance centre, Minister Stratan reiterated that it will open in the Hungarian Embassy in April 2007, with the participation of Austria and Slovenia at the beginning. Denmark, Estonia, Italy and Latvia have also posted readiness to participate in activity of the centre. Minister Stratan emphasised that the centre will issue Hungarian, Austrian and Slovenian visas at beginning in shorter terms and by operating simpler formalities. Speaking about Romania’s initiative to create and coordinate a similar centre, the foreign minister said that political competitions should not be launched to open such centres and “any desire to create something in Moldova should be consulted with Chisinau authorities before tackling such issues in Brussels or other European capitals.” According to a communication by the European Commission Delegation in Chisinau, Romania’s proposal “should be closely coordinated with Hungary’s initiative.”

The European Commission Delegation in Chisinau said also that the joint visa issuance centre will process at least 10,000 visa applications a year. Applications for transit visas, airport transit and short-term visas will be collected and delivered to consulates for processing at least once a week. According to the E.U. diplomatic representation, visa applicants will submit a copy of application and necessary documents and a card containing basic information about visa applicant and application. The card will also contain a picture of the applicant and his digital fingerprints will be introduced later.

Meeting of E.U.-Moldova Troika in Berlin

Berlin hosted a meeting between E.U. Troika and Moldova on February 27, 2007. Taking part in the meeting on behalf of the E.U. were Michael Schafer, political director of the German Foreign Ministry; Helga Schmid, chief of the Political Directorate of the Council Secretariat; Lars-Erik Lundin, deputy political director of the E.U. Commission; and Vasco Bramao Ramos, political director of the Portugal Foreign Ministry. Moldova was represented by Valeriu Ostalep, deputy minister of foreign affairs and European integration; Ion Stavila, deputy minister of reintegration; and Igor Corman, Moldovan ambassador to Germany.

According to the press service of the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, the talks focused on five basic directions: the internal reforms in Moldova; the Transnistrian conflict; the EUBAM; frozen conflicts and Black Sea cooperation. The sides also focused on future E.U.-Moldova relations after the implementation term of EUMAP will expire. In the context, E.U. officials highlighted the importance of an efficient implementation of EUMAP as a base for continuing talks on future relations between the two sides, expressed the readiness of E.U. to extend the mandate of EUBAM for a two-year term and the interest of E.U. for supporting some projects on Black Sea cooperation.

Opening of Pro Europa Centre in Cahul

The first interactive centre Pro Europa opened in the State University “B.P. Hasdeu” in Cahul on February 20, with the support of the Eurasia Foundation Moldova Representative Office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova. The centre aims to provide information about E.U., European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), implementation of EUMAP and European integration process of Moldova. President Vladimir Voronin reiterated at the opening of the centre that the reintegration process of Moldova is irreversible and noted that this process will cover the whole territory of the country thanks to this centre. A similar centre will open in the Balti municipality.

Republic of Moldova — Romania

Tensions produced by a February 20, 2007 decision by the Bucharest Court of Appeals and a visit of representatives of the Community of Moldovans in Romania (CMR)^[1] have marked the bilateral relations between Moldova and Romania in the period concerned. The Bucharest Court of Appeals has ruled in response to an application by Sorin Alexianu, son of former governor of Transnistria, that Ion Antonescu is not guilty of all accusations for which he was sentenced to death and the war for liberation of Bessarabia and Bucovina was legitimate until the imminence of the Soviet military danger was eliminated. The Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration has released an official communication in connection with this decision, raising concern with rehabilitation of actions taken by marshal Antonescu during the World War II and with recognition of “Romanian occupation of the territory of MSSR and North Bucovina” as legitimate. Also, the ministry noted that “all Moldovan society has received this decision with indignation” and “the capacity of Romanian justice to create legal grounds for rehabilitation of cases that the entire international community univocally considers as invasion, aggression and occupation” of the territory of the present Republic of Moldova from June 22, 1941 to August 24, 1944 is surprising. It is worth mentioning that the academic community places itself in dissonance with diagnosis of the Moldovan Foreign Ministry, which cites the attitude of “entire international community,” and the academia non-univocally interprets the events that took place in the period mentioned in the ministerial statement.

The February 22–23, 2007 visit of CMR representatives to Chisinau also launched controversial talks on both banks of the Proute River. They met President Vladimir Voronin after a visit to the Parliament and participated later in a TV programme aired by TV channel Moldova 1. According to the chief of state, who gave an ample interview about his meeting with CMR representatives to MOLDPRES, the sides have discussed the topics Moldova — the common homeland inherited from Dragos and Stefan the Great, Moldovan culture and tradition of “Moldovans’ statehood continued by present Republic of Moldova.” According to Voronin, the fact that Romanian legislation does not include Moldovans among national minorities of Romania is “the main obstacle for legalisation of Moldovans and their culture in Romania,” and they “count for a population of about 10 million persons who live in Romanian Moldova.” Voronin stated to MOLDPRES that the Chisinau authorities are ready to contribute to the opening of a “house of Moldovan culture” in Romania and to consider a proposal of CMR representatives to award the Moldovan citizenship to Moldovans from Romania in a facilitated regime. The Moldovan citizenship, Voronin continued, could be a serious legal support for “Romanian Moldovans to defend their identity.” Many observers consider that Voronin’s statements could be a reaction to the high number of Moldovan citizens who seek the Romanian citizenship.

CMR has said in an official communication after the visit of its representatives to Chisinau that it intends to self-dissolve in order to prevent “certain groups of interests” from using the CMR as a political tool capable to affect the relations between the two states.

Republic of Moldova — Russian Federation

Moldova’s relations with the Russian Federation still tarry in a frame of suspicions and reciprocal objections. After a high-ranking official of the Russian Foreign Ministry raised concern in the first half of February 2007 with non-accreditation of Russian diplomats in Chisinau, Chisinau released an official communication at the end of the same month to raise puzzle and suspicion over fairness and constructivism of Russia as a mediator of the Transnistria settlement process. Having this quality, Chisinau noted, state institutions of the Russian Federation should refrain from using the words “president” or “foreign minister” for representatives of Transnistria. The Russian Foreign Ministry has used such words to report a recent meeting between Russian Foreign Minister S. Lavrov and separatist Tiraspol leader I. Smirnov.

Moldovan Minister of Finance Mihai Pop was quoted by BASA-press as saying that the state budget of Moldova fails revenues in the amount of 40–50 million lei a month, as the Russian Federation restricts the wine exports. The Moldovan state budget lost 400 million lei in 2006 for this reason.

Republic of Moldova — Sweden

The Bucharest-based Swedish ambassador to Moldova, Mats Aberg, has told a meeting with Moldovan Speaker Marian Lupu that Sweden will adopt soon a new strategy of cooperation with Moldova in order to intensify bilateral relations and to back the European integration aspirations of Chisinau. According to the parliamentary press service, the Swedish diplomat revealed that the new strategy will aim to support reforms, improve good practices of governing and assistance for developing the country’s regions and ensuring the energy security of Moldova. Sweden will assist Moldova with about 11 million euros a year the next three years in order to implement this strategy.

Republic of Moldova — Azerbaijan

The capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, has hosted the second plenary session of the Moldovan-Azerbaijani intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation. The sides signed six bilateral agreements at that session. The intergovernmental agreements envisage environment protection, migration and geodesy, cartography and cadastre, while the interdepartmental agreements refer to healthcare and medical sciences, public finances and statistics.

Moldovan officials revealed Chisinau’s interest to participate in the Nabucco project and sought Azerbaijan’s support for this purpose. The Nabucco project aims to build a natural gas pipe to carry gas from Central Asia and the Caspian region to Europe. The pipe is expected to be put into operation in 2011. Also, the Moldovan side invited Azerbaijan to participate in an international tender on prospecting of petroleum and gas reserves in Moldova, which will open soon.

↑ Not to mix up the abbreviation CMR used in this text and the homonymous abbreviation CMR used to abbreviate the name of the Romanian World Council.

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