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Foreign Affairs on June 16–30, 2008

European Integration

The 6th meeting of the Republic Moldova — European Union Cooperation Subcommittee

Brussels hosted on June 25–27, 2008 the 6th meeting of the Republic of Moldova — European Union Cooperation Subcommittee on Energy, Environment, Transport, Telecommunication, Science, Technology, Culture and Education. The parties have discussed progresses made by the Republic of Moldova and prospects of Moldova-community cooperation in areas covered by competence of the subcommittee. In particular, representatives of the European Commission (EC) appreciated developments in the area of electronic services. They also welcomed environmental evolutions, but EC experts recommended Moldova to prioritise the national calendar on approximation of the legislation on environment and keep involving civil society and private sector in drafting and implementing environmental policies.

The meeting also focussed on implementation of the Energy Strategy of Moldova until 2020 and Moldova’s application to join the Energy Community Treaty. The Moldovan side has sought the EC support to find funds for the implementation of the Energy Strategy. In its turn, the European Commission said that it has plans to adopt a mandate in order to begin accession negotiations by the end of July 2008. Another topic of the meeting was Moldova’s demand to be included in the European Common Aviation Area and EC talks on establishing a South East Europe Transport Community.

At the same time, the EC reconfirmed its readiness to provide the necessary support to Moldova in order to fulfil objectives of Moldova-community cooperation in all sectors discussed at the meeting.

Black Sea Synergy (BSS)

On June 20, 2008 the European Commission presented the report on the first year of implementation of the Black Sea Synergy released in April 2007. The report concludes that initial results of the Black Sea Synergy demonstrate the practical utility and potential of the EU initiative. However, the Black Sea Synergy progress requires a more active and consistent participation of EU member states and Black Sea partners[1].

Also, the report establishes new action initiatives for next year, among them: mobilisation of efforts of BSS members by establishing long-term measurable objectives in the area of environment, energy, maritime transport and security, establishing sectoral partnerships to encourage the co-financing of regional projects, stirring up the participation of civil society in BSS projects, etc.

Bilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Russia

Prime Minister Zinaida Grecianii was on a formal visit to Moscow on June 20, 2008 and met there Russian Premier Vladimir Putin, Aleksey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Board of Directors, Minister of Education and Science, Andrei Fursenko, Co-chairman of the Moldovan-Russian commission for commercial-economic cooperation, and Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Grigori Karasin.

The talks focused on actions to impel the commercial-economic cooperation (in particular, extending Moldovan wine and agricultural exports to Russia and attracting Russian investments on Moldovan market), debt for Russian gas[2] and gas price, situation of Moldovan migrants in Russia and settlement of the Transnistrian conflict.

As regards the energy issue, it was decided after talks with Aleksei Miller that future gas supplies will be 3 billion cubic metres, but they will be delivered for a 240-dollar price per 1,000 cubic metres (starting July 1, 2008), compared with the old price of 210 dollars per 1,000 cubic metres. In addition, Gazprom has plans to invest about 30 million dollars in building gas pipe lines in Moldova. In her turn, Grecianii invited Russia to transit its exports (of energy and other goods) via Moldova.

As regards the Transnistrian issue, the sides have reconfirmed the necessity to settle the conflict by respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova. According to Russian press reports, Zinaida Grecianii has transmitted a series of initiatives on settlement of the Transnistrian conflict to Vladimir Putin on behalf of Moldova’s president. Putin assured that the conflict may be settled in future should Transnistria and Moldova wish it.

Grecianii’s visit to Moscow came the next day after Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin has met Yuri Zubakov, Deputy secretary of the Russian Supreme Security Council and discussed latest developments in the Transnistrian settlement process and perspectives to resume the “5+2” negotiations.

Multilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Council of Europe
ECHR decisions

On June 17, 2008 the European Court of Human Rights sentenced Moldova in the case Victor Savitchi vs. Moldova for torture and ill-treatment. The Court granted 6,000 Euros in non-pecuniary damages and 2,000 Euros in costs and expenses.

  1. ↑ The Black Sea area covers the following countries: Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey.
  2. ↑ Moldova’s debt for Russian gas amounted to 1,046,500,000 lei in early 2008, without penalties. In particular, Moldova’s debt amounted to 160.6 million dollars without penalties and the debt of the Transnistrian region accounted for 885.9 million dollars.
June 1–15, 2008 July 1–15, 2008