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European Union will allocate 3 million Euros for free and fair parliamentary elections

The European Commission has decided to fund projects capable to promote and monitor respect for international standards during the April 5, 2009 parliamentary elections. For this purpose, it will allocate 3 million Euros via funding projects and instruments^[1]. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, said that this decision of the European Commission is an important indicator of the active EU interest to deepen relations with Moldova. At the same time, the European official invited Moldovan authorities to do their best in order to strengthen the rule of law and implement all commitments on human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially throughout electoral process.

5th Meeting of EU-Moldova Subcommittee for Economy, Finance and Statistics

Chisinau hosted on February 27, 2009 the 5^th Meeting of the EU-Moldova Cooperation Subcommittee for Economy, Finance and Statistics. The agenda included issues related to latest macroeconomic and financial developments in Moldova, implementation of economic commitments assumed by Moldova in accordance with the EU-Moldova Action Plan; implementation of the regulatory reform, etc. During talks, participants stressed the importance of EU support and financial assistance in internal reformation process, pointing out priorities and actions needed to be taken for strengthening the Moldovan-EU sectoral cooperation. (According to a MFAEI communication)

Visit by deputy foreign minister to Brussels

Valeriu Ostalep was on a working visit to Brussels on February 18, 2009 and met there Mr. John Kjaer, Unit Head, DG RELEX of the European Commission, and Mr. Janos Herman, Senior Adviser for Regional Cooperation, deputy political director, DG RELEX of the European Commission. Talks focussed on important issues for Moldova, in particular, the negotiation of a Moldova-EU Agreement, the EU visa policy and the opening of a dialogue on liberalisation of visa regime, the European Commission’s assistance to Moldova. As well, they discussed latest internal developments in Moldova and schedule of events organised jointly with the European Commission. (According to a MFAEI communication)

Bilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Russia

During February 23–24, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was on a working visit to Chisinau. He was received by President Vladimir Voronin and discussed with Prime Minister Zinaida Greceanii and Deputy Foreign Minister Valeriu Ostalep. Talks focussed on international cooperation of countries, inclusively the information of Moldova about Russia’s initiative to work out a treaty on security, development of bilateral cooperation in some areas, particularly commercial-economic and cultural-humanitarian, Transnistrian problem; Moldova’s chairmanship in CIS. During the visit, the Russian foreign minister has attended the inauguration of the Russian Cultural Centre in Chisinau, signed a humanitarian cooperation programme between Moldova and Russia for 2009–2010 and a consultation plan between Foreign Ministries of Russia and Moldova for 2009, and handed in to President Voronin copies of archives relating to masterpiece and activity of Dimitrie and Antioh Cantemir.

Note by ADEPT: The visit of Sergei Lavrov came after a 8-year pause, when a Russian foreign minister visited Moldova last time, and in full electoral campaign. Thus, both Moldovan and Russian media, and opposition leaders said that the visit had an electoral purpose advantaging PCRM. Although the Russian foreign minister denied any electoral connotation of his visit, the fact that declared purposes of the visit were typical to a lower-ranking official rather than to Russia’s foreign minister reduces the credibility of Lavrov’s sayings.

Multilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Council of Europe

ECHR decisions

On February 24, 2009, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) pronounced a decision on Decev vs. Moldova and decided on fair resolution of the case Dacia SRL vs. Moldova. In both cases the Court indicated violation of the right to property protection and fair trial. It granted 2,500 Euros in non-pecuniary damages and 800 Euros in costs and expenses in the Decev vs. Moldova case. As for Dacia SRL vs. Moldova, the Court obliged the Moldovan Government to return the Dacia hotel (including adjacent plot and inventory of the hotel) to the applicant. In the event it refuses to return the hotel, the Government will have to pay 7,237,700 Euros in pecuniary damages, 25,000 Euros in non-pecuniary damages and 6,000 Euros in costs and expenses to the applicant. (Source: www.echr.coe.int, www.lhr.md)

Republic of Moldova — OSCE

Launching of ODIHR parliamentary election observation mission

The mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) was formally launched on February 26 to observe parliamentary elections in Moldova. OSCE observers are monitoring the scrutiny at the invitation of the Central Electoral Commission. The mission is made of 13 international experts. Twenty-four long-term observers will join them in early March and another 200 short-term observers will arrive before the Election Day. According to the head of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission, Nikolai Vulchanov, the mission mandate is not to intervene in electoral process, not to recommend or advise Moldovan authorities how to organise elections, but to observe and notify facts, while the exclusive responsibility for validity of the scrutiny will rest with authorities, political parties and civil society. (According to Moldpres)

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