Foreign Affairs on June 16–30, 2007

European integration

European Union — Moldova Cooperation Council

See the article E.U.-Moldova Cooperation Council (June 2007) published in this issue of the e-journal.

E.U. Council Presidency regarding general local elections in Moldova

The E.U. Council Presidency has published a document revealing its stance on the June 3 and 17 general local elections in Moldova. According to the statement, “Following the conclusion of the second round of the local elections in the Republic of Moldova, the EU Presidency notes with satisfaction that, all in all, they went off smoothly and that voters had been given a genuine choice between candidates and parties, even if the elections did not comply on all points with the international obligations entered into by the Republic of Moldova. With a view to future elections, the Presidency urges the Republic of Moldova to analyse the remaining problems, above all shortcomings relating to equal access for all candidates to the media, the orderly registration of all candidates, as well as the maintenance of the electoral registers and the vote counting, and to rectify them.”

Bilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Romania

While attending the GUAM summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, Romanian President Traian Basescu has reiterated the opportunity of ratifying the Adapted Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty only after Russia honours its international commitments and pulls out its troops from Moldova and Georgia. The Romanian president has also called for participation of the OSCE, E.U. and U.N. in selecting international peacekeeping forces in the two states.

Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu was on an official visit to Chisinau on June 29. He met President Vladimir Voronin, his counterpart Vasile Tarlev and attended a Moldovan-Romanian business forum with the participation of approximately 50 businessmen from Romania and 30 businessmen from Moldova.

The Romanian official and representatives of Moldovan central authorities discussed investment projects implemented at three 330-kW interconnection lines, Balti-Novodnestrovsk, Balti-Suceava and Falciu-Gotesti, infrastructure projects, and considered the opportunity of creating a Development and Cooperation Fund of Romania to finance important projects for Moldova.

As regards the signing of a framework agreement between Moldova and Romania, a document that Chisinau is seeking for quite a long time, the Romanian premier hinted that such an act would be necessary but each side must be flexible, and the agreement must start from the premise of sovereignty and independence of Moldova and bilateral relations must be based on realities, particularly on future, on a common European future.

A technical cooperation protocol was signed between the Stock Exchange of Moldova and the Bucharest Stock Exchange after the economic forum.

Republic of Moldova — Russia

President Vladimir Voronin has met twice his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in the period concerned. The first meeting took place at the residence of the Russian president in Novo-Ogarevo on June 22 and the two presidents met the second time in Rostov-pe-Don on June 30, at the informal CIS summit. Earlier, the two presidents met at the CIS summit in Sankt-Petersburg on June 10 and President Voronin met the deputy secretary of the Russian Supreme Security Council, Yuri Zubakov, on June 15.

The many meetings are due to recent mysterious talks on the Transnistrian conflict. Little things are known about these talks because they are not transparent (See the “Transnistrian problem” chapter).

Besides the Transnistrian problem, the Moldovan and Russian presidents have discussed economic issues related to the Chisinau-Moscow relations, including the export of Moldovan wines to the Russian Federation.

After the Russian publication Kommersanthas recently reported that Soyuzplodoimport could be the exclusive administrator of imports on Russian market, if Moldova resumes the wine exports to Russia, representatives of the Russian company denied this fact. They also denied the fact that Moldova shall cede some brands such as Belyi Aist to Soyuzplodoimport as a condition to resume the wine exports to the Russian market.

On the other hand, officials of Moldova-Vin Agency, which will administrate the alcohol exports to the Russian Federation, said that the negotiations on resumption of wine deliveries go on.

Multilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Council of Europe

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has sentenced Moldova in three cases in the period concerned. The ECHR has found out in the case Ciorap vs. Moldova the violation of the rights to a fair trial and private and family life. It told Moldova to pay 20,000 Euros in non-pecuniary damages and 2,000 Euros in costs and expenses to the applicant.

In the second case Botnari vs. Moldova, the Strasbourg-based Court has indicated the violation of the rights to a fair trial and to an effective appeal. The Moldovan Government was obliged to pay 2,000 Euros to the applicant in non-pecuniary damages and 100 Euros in costs and expenses.

The ECHR has found out the violation of the right to a fair trial in the third case Tocono and Prometeu Teachers vs. Moldova. It obliged Moldova to pay 3,000 Euros to the applicants in non-pecuniary damages and 2,080 Euros in costs and expenses.

Regional cooperation

Republic of Moldova — ODED — GUAM

The Azerbaijani capital of Baku hosted a meeting of presidents of the Organisation for Democracy and Economic Development (ODED) — GUAM on June 19. Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev represented Moldova at that meeting. The meeting brought together representatives of 25 states and international organisations such as the U.N., NATO, OSCE, and CIS.

The meeting agenda included topics related to political relations, sectoral cooperation development strategy, relations with other states and international organisations and handover of the ODED-GUAM Presidency.

The ODED-GUAM summit signed the Baku Statement indicating the need of sustained efforts to implement joint projects; the understanding memorandum on cooperation in nuclear and radiological security area between member states; the agreement on immunities and privileges; the cultural cooperation protocol between ODED-GUAM member states for 2007–2010.

Republic of Moldova — BSEC

Istanbul hosted a summit of the Black See Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Organisation leaders on June 25. Moldova was represented by President Vladimir Voronin. The summit marked the 15^th anniversary of the organisation and a jubilee statement was signed on this occasion.

President Voronin called for consolidation of democratic experience and strengthening of economic and social development of all BSEC member states at the Istanbul summit. Also, it was noted that Moldova supports the continuation of the process of consolidation of cooperation in diverse areas and it wishes the BSEC to use its potential in order to create a prosperous area, with a stable energy security and without unsettled conflicts.

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