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Foreign Affairs on May 17–31, 2008

European Integration

Meeting of the Republic of Moldova — European Union Cooperation Council

Brussels hosted the 10th Meeting of the Republic of Moldova — European Union Cooperation Council on May 27, 2008. Taking part in the meeting on behalf of the EU were Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, Chairman of the Cooperation Council and head of the EU Delegation, Mr. Kalman Mizsei, EU Special Representative for the Republic of Moldova. The Moldovan delegation was led by Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin. In Brussels, Mr. Voronin has also met Mrs. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, and Mr. Javier Solana, EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy.

The meeting has focused on topics such as results of implementation of the EU-Moldova Action Plan (EUMAP); economic and political progresses made by Moldova; situation regarding democracy, the rule of law, human rights; border management and activity of the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) to Moldova and Ukraine. An informal sitting has discussed the Transnistrian conflict.

EU representatives welcomed the progress made by Moldova in most areas of the EUMAP (as reflected in the April 2008 Progress Report by the European Commission), as well as achievements reached in the EU-Moldova relations (the entry into force of the Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements and the Autonomous Trade Preferences).

On this basis, the EU reconfirmed its readiness to start reflections on a new agreement with the Republic of Moldova, going beyond the current Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. At the same time, the EU underlined the need for further reform efforts, in particular as regards the strengthening of democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights, media freedom, the fight against corruption, and the business and investment climate. Moldova’s capacity to ensure that the 2009 parliamentary elections would be prepared and conducted in a fully democratic manner is also very important.

As regards the Transnistrian issue, the EU reiterated its support to the measures initiated by President Voronin to build confidence between Chisinau and Tiraspol and highlighted its strong engagement in the efforts to resume the 5+2 settlement talks. It assured that it will support these initiatives by providing financial assistance.

In his turn, President Voronin reconfirmed the irreversibility of the European integration course of the Republic of Moldova.

Bilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Romania

Dissensions related to the signing of Convention on small cross-border traffic between the Republic of Moldova and Romania continued to mark the Moldovan-Romanian relations, though Moldova has tried to change a little the accent in bilateral relations. Thus, Moldovan Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Valeriu Ostalep paid a working visit to Bucharest on May 28, 2008 and met there State Secretary Adrian Ciocanea, head of the Department for Foreign Affairs, and Raduta Matache, State Secretary of the Foreign Ministry, and he was received by Romanian Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu.

According to the press-releases of both foreign ministries (www.mfa.md and www.mae.ro), the visit aimed to discuss “concrete ways to develop Romanian-Moldovan cooperation” in order to support the European integration of Moldova. The press releases did not provide any information about the Convention on small cross-border traffic, which was initially included on the working agenda of the visit. Instead of it, the sides have discussed the negotiation of draft Basic and Border treaties. Also, they discussed mechanisms of implementing assistance projects, aspects of consular cooperation and abolition of transit visa regime with Romania for Moldovan citizens who hold Schengen visas.

During the visit, Ostalep and Matache held a briefing for EU ambassadors in Bucharest, with the Moldovan official reporting Moldova’s latest progresses in European integration process and seeking support from EU member states to get a negotiation mandate in 2008. In her turn, Ms. Matache reiterated Romania’s support to the European integration of the Republic of Moldova.

Note. In an interview with the TV channel “Moldova-1”, David Kramer, U.S. deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy and Human rights, has invited the Republic of Moldova and Romania to sign the bilateral State Border treaty. His call preceded Ostalep’s visit to Bucharest[1].

Republic of Moldova — Russia

The Moldovan-Russian relations have been marked by several reciprocal official visits.

Sergey Mironov, Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federal Assembly, paid an official visit to Moldova on May 18–20, 2008. During the visit, he met Moldovan Speaker Marian Lupu, President Vladimir Voronin, Prime Minister Zinaida Greceanii, and Gagauz Governor Mihail Formuzal.

The sides have discussed issues related to development of bilateral commercial-economic cooperation, especially at the regional level (ex. natural gas supply, Moldovan wine exports to Russia, launching of Russian investment projects in Moldovan regions, etc.) and settlement of the Transnistrian conflict.

Speaking about commercial-economic relations, Mr. Mironov proposed to elaborate a long-term economic cooperation programme between Moldova and Russian Federation till 2020, while Mr. Lupu expressed Moldova’s interest to ratify the Protocol to the 2007 Intergovernmental Agreement on principles of imposing indirect taxes in reciprocal commerce. Mironov reiterated that Russia is calling for the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict within a sovereign and territorially integrated Moldova.

The Transnistrian issue and Moldovan-Russian cooperation have been tackled during a May 29, 2008 working visit by Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Stratan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European integration, to the Russian Federation. Moldovan and Russian Foreign ministers have signed an advisory plan between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova and the Foreign Ministry of Russia for 2008.

Republic of Moldova — Ukraine

Energy matters have been reintroduced on agenda of Moldovan-Ukrainian relations. A new round of negotiations on price of Ukrainian electricity supplied to Moldova took place in Kiev on May 20. Following negotiations between Moldovan First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Dodon, Minister of Economy and Commerce, and Yuri Prodan, Minister of Fuel and Energy of Ukraine, Ukraine will ensure stable electricity supply to Moldova till the end of 2020. But starting June 2008, the price of Ukrainian electricity will grow up to 4.4 U.S. cents per kWh (compared with the old price of 4.0 U.S. cents per kWh), and starting July 1, 2009, the neighbouring country will sell its electricity accordingly to wholesale prices on its electricity market (about 6.2 U.S. cents per kWh), applying a discounting coefficient for Moldova.

The Kiev consultations have also focused on Moldovan-Ukrainian cooperation in building the high-tension power line Novodnestrovsk-Balti.

New foreign ambassadors accredited in Chisinau

On May 30, Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin received credentials from new foreign ambassadors to Moldova, as follows:

Multilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — SEECP

On May 20, the Bulgarian city of Pomorie hosted the Meeting of the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Foreign Ministers organised under the auspices of the Bulgarian SEECP Presidency. The Moldovan delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Stratan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration. In an address to the meeting, Mr. Stratan has presented priorities and goals of the future Moldovan SEECP Presidency, among them: development of the SEECP-EU dialogue and strengthening of European prospects of South East European states, and regional cooperation within SEECPRO.

The meeting adopted the Strategic Action Programme of the Regional Cooperation Council, the report on Bulgarian SEECP Presidency and the Pomorie Joint Declaration.

On May 21, Pomorie hosted the 11th Summit of SEECP Heads of State and Government at which President Vladimir Voronin took over the one-year mandate of SEECP Chairman-in-Office on behalf of Moldova. The summit approved the Pomorie Joint Declaration.

Republic of Moldova — CEI

On May 26, Chisinau hosted the Meeting of the Central European Initiative Parliamentary Committee, which focused on development of regional cooperation to bring South East European states closer to the EU. Taking part in the meeting were parliamentarians from Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Italy, Republic of Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, Hungary.

  1. ↑ See also www.ziua.ro from 27.05.2008.
May 1–16, 2008 June 1–15, 2008