Foreign Affairs on September 1–15, 2008

European Integration

Moldova seeks an Association Agreement with EU and accession to EU FP7 on research

Deputy Minister Andrei Stratan, minister of foreign affairs and European integration, met officials of the European Commission, EU Council and European Parliament in Brussels on September 10, 2008. While discussing with Mrs. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European commissioner for external relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, the Moldovan foreign minister approached issues related to internal developments in Moldova from the European integration perspective, Moldova-EU relations and settlement of the Transnistrian conflict. Mrs. Waldner appreciated Moldova’s position concerning the situation in Georgia and reconfirmed the EU support for getting the mandate on future Moldova-EU cooperation agreement, saying that it should be quite ambitious and fit internal realities of the EU. Also, the European official emphasised the importance of organising and conducting fair parliamentary elections in 2009 for the European future of Moldova. In his turn, Mr. Stratan assured that the Transnistria settlement negotiations will restart in the “5+2” format only, stressing that Moldova seeks an Association Agreement as future legal accord with the EU. During the same visit, the Moldovan foreign minister along with Gheorghe Duca, chairman of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, has met Mr. Janez Potocnik, European commissioner for science and research, to discuss Moldova’s association to the EU FP7 on research, participation in joint research projects, identification of mobility programmes for researchers, takeover of good EU practices in the field of science and strengthening of skills of scientific centres / Academy of Sciences. (According to the MFAEI press release from 11.09.2008)

Bilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Czech Republic

During September 2–3, 2008, Moldovan Prime Minister Zinaida Greceanii was on an official visit to the Czech Republic and met high-ranking Czech dignitaries there, in particular, Czech President Vaclav Klaus, Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, the heads of the Upper and Lower Chambers of the Czech Parliament, Premysl Sobotka and Miloslav Vlcek, etc. During meetings with Czech officials the Moldovan premier has presented reforms implemented by Moldova and discussed opportunities to develop the Moldovan-Czech relations (in the field of energy, commerce and visa regime), as the Czech Republic is expected to take over the EU Presidency in January 2009, thanking the Czech side for supporting Moldova in the European integration process and helping it to remedy consequences of floods. In their turn, the Czech president and prime minister assured that the Czech Republic supports Moldova’s European aspirations and it will keep assisting Moldova in this respect. During the visit, the Czech and Moldovan presidents have signed a protocol to the agreement on reciprocal protection of investments. Also, Mrs. Greceanii has attended the Moldovan-Czech economic forum organised in Prague over her visit, as well as the opening of the new headquarters of the Moldovan Embassy to the Czech Republic.

Multilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Council of Europe

During September 8–9, the Council of Europe corapporteur for Moldova, Mrs. Josette Durrieu, was on a fact-collection visit to Chisinau. Mrs. Durrieu has met state and parliamentary officials, leaders of parliamentary factions, heads of ministries and departments, representatives of the electronic media watchdog CCA and Public Company TeleRadio-Moldova, etc. She appreciated the stable economic and political situation in Moldova, welcoming the honouring of almost all commitments assumed by Moldova to revise the legal framework. At the same time, organising and conducting parliamentary elections in Moldova is so far “a test of political maturity” for Moldova and taking this test is for the interest of the Government, as it will encourage the European integration of the country. According to the European officials, the organisation of the 2009 parliamentary elections is being monitored.

Republic of Moldova — NATO

The meeting of the North Atlantic Council 26 + Republic of Moldova took place in Brussels on September 10, 2007. It focussed on assessing the progress made by Moldova in implementing the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) with NATO on the basis of the NATO Mission evaluation report from March 2008. The Moldovan side was represented by Deputy Premier Andrei Stratan, minister of foreign affairs and European integration, and Defence Minister Vitalie Vrabie. The head of the Moldovan delegation, Andrei Stratan, has presented accomplishments of IPAP, stressing further objectives in reforming the national security and defence system and areas of cooperation requiring the NATO assistance. He reported the evolution of internal reforms in Moldova in the context of European aspirations of the country and revealed Moldova’s desire to sign an Association Agreement with the EU, which would stipulate Moldova’s status of candidate to the EU. NATO representatives reconfirmed the NATO position to keep cooperating with Moldova on the basis of an updated IPAP. In this respect, participants formulated recommendations on further implementation of the Plan, expressing readiness to provide assistance. Also, the Moldovan delegation has also met NATO Secretary-General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer and discussed latest developments in the Transnistria settlement process additionally to IPAP-related issues. (According to MFAEI press releases)

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