Foreign Affairs on February 16–29, 2008

European integration

E.U. Council conclusions on relations with Moldova

On February 18, 2008 the General Affairs Council adopted its conclusions on relations of the European Union (E.U.) with the Republic of Moldova. The Council noted the positive dynamics in E.U.-Moldova relations over the past 12 months, underlined E.U. efforts to contribute to the conflict settlement in Transnistria and welcomed the active alignment by the Republic of Moldova with the Common Foreign Security Policy Declarations.

Also, the Council welcomed the progress made by the Republic of Moldova in the implementation of the E.U.-Moldova Action Plan (EUMAP) over the last three years. However, it noted that further and continuous efforts are needed in order to strengthen democracy and the rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of the media, inter alia in the run-up to the parliamentary elections, and to reinforce the fight against corruption, as well as to improve the investment climate, notably the investment-related provisions.

The Council reiterated that on the basis of sustained progress in Action Plan implementation, the E.U. is ready to start reflection on a new agreement with the Republic of Moldova going beyond the PCA. The Council conclusions are in dissonance with statements delivered by President Voronin during a TV programme aired by NIT, as the head of state was quoted by Moldpres as saying that a framework agreement between E.U. and Moldova is being drafted. He added that the future document will cover a longer period than the EUMAP does and could stipulate more concrete stages. The head of state could be right in the second case, but he is uninformed in the first case.

CAC

On April 1, 2008, Sweden will join the Common Application Centre (CAC) operating in the Hungarian Embassy in Chisinau. For this purpose, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and Hungarian Ambassador to Moldova Mihaly Bayer signed an agreement in Chisinau on February 28, accordingly to which Sweden entrusts the Hungarian Government to issue Swedish visas to Moldovan citizens. Cyprus and Norway are negotiating the joining to the CAC.

Bilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Russia

A meeting between Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin was the key event in the register of Moldovan-Russian relations in the period concerned. Like after last Voronin-Putin meetings, the Moldovan presidential press service was very laconic in covering the February 21 meeting between the two heads of state. It said that the dignitaries have tackled issues related to commercial-economic cooperation between Moldova and Russia and the Transnistrian settlement process. In this context, the Russian president reiterated Moscow’s readiness to find a viable solution to the Transnistrian conflict jointly with Chisinau and Tiraspol. As regards the Transnistria settlement topic, the two presidents agreed on the need to resume the “Five-Plus-Two” negotiations as soon as possible. Given the lack of details about the meeting between the two presidents, observers marked the field of suppositions and speculations.

The meeting between Russian and Moldovan presidents was preceded by a meeting between Russian and Moldovan prime ministers a day before. Official press services have been more generous as regards this meeting, reporting more details about talks. Prime ministers decided to work out a long-term economic cooperation programme until 2020 to succeed the bilateral programme in effect until late 2008, which helps intensifying the cooperation between Russian and Moldovan economic agents. The audience was told at a briefing after the meeting that Russia is interested to open a trade centre and a branch of the Russian VTB Bank in Chisinau, as well as to participate in petrol and gas deposit surveys in Moldova.

As regards humanitarian cooperation, the Russian side is ready to increase the number of scholarships for Moldovan students and to agree with Moldova on a new education cooperation programme for 2008–2009. In spite of optimistic plans on humanitarian area, Moldovan journalist Natalia Morari was restricted access to Russia for the second time in a row. The case of Natalia Morari, which has become chrestomatic for human rights organisations, was not discussed at the meetings between Moldovan and Russian presidents and premiers.

Speaking about the Transnistrian conflict, Russian Premier Viktor Zubkov has assured that Russia supports a political settlement on the basis of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova. The deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma, Ivan Melnikov, reiterated Zubkov’s statement at a meeting with Moldovan premier.

Regional cooperation

Republic of Moldova — RCC/SPSEE

The Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe (SPSEE), a regional commitment launched in 1999 and joined by Moldova in June 2001, has ceased its activity. Duties and competences of SPSEE have been transferred to the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) after a reorganisation process that began at a meeting of the SPSEE Roundtable in 2006. Sofia hosted on February 27, 2008 the first RCC meeting, which approved a Joint Declaration on RCC.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Andrei Stratan represented Moldova at the Sofia meeting. He welcomed the reorganisation of SPSEE into RCC; stressed accomplishments by SPSEE as a mechanism of consolidation of regional cooperation and interface between countries in the region and E.U.; invited participants in RCC to assume new responsibilities in order to ensure security, stability and prosperity in the region, and encouraged the E.U. to continue participating actively in developments in the area.

SPSEE Special Coordinator Erhard Busek has visited Moldova before the Sofia RCC meeting, on occasion of the works of the Vienna Economic Forum. In Chisinau, he met Moldovan officials including President Vladimir Voronin, Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Andrei Stratan. Moldovan officials eulogised the SPSEE, saying that it has helped Moldova approach the E.U. and indicated the personal contribution of Erhard Busek to strengthening the regional cooperation in the SPSEE-covered area.

Multilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — CIS

Moscow hosted an informal summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) on February 22, 2008. Taking part in the summit were all heads of CIS member states, including Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin.

The summit focussed on an action plan on implementation of the CIS Development Concept. Participants also focussed among others on economic development, migration policy, modernisation of transportation infrastructure, cultural-humanitarian and information cooperation in the CIS area, etc.

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