Foreign Affairs on April 1–15, 2009

The nature of Moldova’s foreign policy and bilateral relations was determined by developments relating to the April 5, 2009 parliamentary elections.

EU position on electoral process before the Election Day, April 5, 2009

April 2, 2009

During the meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council held in Vienna, the European Union presents a statement on the preparations for the elections in the Republic of Moldova on 5 April 2009. The statement notes that “on the whole the election campaign is generally pluralistic and that the preparations for the election are being managed […] in a transparent and professional manner”. Nevertheless, are pointed out certain negative elements, “specifically the abuse of administrative resources, question ns concerning the way voter lists are drawn up and unbalanced media coverage in favour of the outgoing majority party”. In the same statement, the UE reminds that attributes great importance to the parliamentary elections on 5 April being conducted in a democratic manner and that “encouraged the Moldovan authorities to strengthen the rule of law and to implement their commitments on human rights and fundamental freedoms”.

EU position on holding the April 5, 2009 parliamentary elections

April 6, 2009

OSCE /ODIHR Election Observation Mission (EOM) to the Republic of Moldova, which has also included a delegation of the European Parliament (EP), has presented a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions on the April 5, 2009 parliamentary elections. According to the statement, the elections were correct and positive and “took place in an overall pluralistic environment, offering voters distinct political alternatives and meeting many of the OSCE and Council of Europe commitments”. In the election observers’ view the voting on Election Day was well-organized and took place in a calm and peaceful atmosphere, without any major incidents reported. The observers have positively assessed the electoral and counting procedures, although a number of significant procedural shortcomings were noted. According to the EOM, further improvements are required to ensure an electoral process free from undue administrative interference, to guarantee freedom of expression and access to information and to increase public confidence. The preliminary findings underline more drawbacks that remained unsolved: the misuse of administrative resources, alleged cases of voters and candidates’ intimidation by the police, issues related to the campaign coverage by mass media (including the public broadcaster Moldova 1), lack of uniformity in voter registration, impossibility for citizens residing in Transnistrian region to express their right to vote. Despite these conclusions, the appraisals of election made public by European officials at a press conference for presenting the OSCE/ODIHR statement were very positive. In particular, Marinne Mikko, Chairwoman of the EP Delegation declared that “We [EOM] noted real improvements in comparison with the 2005 parliamentary elections”, while Petros Efthymiou, head of the delegation of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly was delighted with the progress of democracy in Moldova. In other interview to Estonian Radio, Marianne Mikko told that “the parliamentary elections just held in the Republic of Moldova are causing positive emotions in Europe”, and both OSCE and the EU highly appreciated the quality of preparation and holding the elections by the Moldovan authorities.

Commissioner for External Relations and Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner has congratulated the Moldovan people for their active participation in parliamentary elections, stressing that elections were conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner and in an overall pluralistic environment. The European Commissioner has underlined also the shortcomings reported by the International Election Observation Mission, urging the newly-elected Parliament to implement the Mission’s recommendations.

April 7, 2009

Commissioner for External Relations and Neighborhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner has called upon all involved to stop the acts of violence in Chisinau and urged all concerned to engage in dialogue and avoid statements that could further inflame the situation. Benita Ferrero-Waldner has reminded that “any complaint in connection to last Sunday’s election should be addressed through the existing channels”.

The EU Czech Presidency has released a statement that condemns the use of violence in Chisinau and calls for restraint on all sides. The Presidency reminded that according to the preliminary findings of the International Election Observation Mission, the elections met many international standards and commitments, but certain further improvements are required.

April 8, 2009

The European observer, Baroness Emma Nicholson, has declared that she has misgivings with results of the OSCE statement, the OSCE statement being “too warm and friendly”.

April 9, 2009

The EU Presidency Trio (the Czech, French and Swedish Ministers of Foreign Affairs) during their meeting in Sarajevo have reiterated the previous messages and declared that “the EU remains ready to work with Moldova in accordance with European values and principles and […] to further strengthen mutual relations between EU and Moldova”. In this regard, the role of the Special Representative of the European Union for Moldova is essential. Besides, the EU called on the Government of Moldova to resume normal relations with Romania, as “for the EU it is essential to enjoy good relations with its neighbours” and to respect the constitutional freedoms, all parties refraining from any violence.

April 10, 2009

The Moldovan minister of foreign affairs and European integration, Andrei Stratan has told in his interview with the “Financial Times” and the Hungarian Radio that the introduction of visa regime for Romanian citizens does not mean the closing of borders with Romania, but is aimed to introduce a stricter border control after the April 6–7 events. As regards the significance of the Eastern Partnership for the Republic of Moldova, taking also into account the latest events, Andrei Stratan has appreciated the good cooperation Moldova had with the UE, but he is discontent with the current “vacuum in Moldova-EU relations”. According to Moldovan minister “Moldova is a little bit confused, because does not clearly understand where its European way is passing — through Western Balkans or through Ararat mountain”. (source: MFAEI press release)

Kalman Mizsei, the EU Special Representative for the Republic of Moldova met Andrei Stratan, Vice-prime-minister, and the minister of foreign affairs and European integration who has presented the position of Moldovan authorities on the situation in the country. Kalman Mizsei affirmed that the European Union has been carefully watching the events in Chisinau and it is ready to offer the necessary aid for settling the crisis. The European official has underlined the balanced EU position on the events in Chisinau, but has also stressed the importance of respecting the right of citizens to free expression and public assembly and for citizens to respect the constitutional norms.

April 11, 2009

The outgoing president Vladimir Voronin had a telephone conversation with the EU high Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana and asked him to send a delegation to Moldova to observe the situation there after recent protests that took place in Chisinau on April 7 in order “to avoid the speculations in mass media on the latest events in the Republic of Moldova”. (source: Infotag)

April 13, 2009

The EU has decided to send a post-election monitoring mission to Chisinau. The European Commission has welcomed the decision of Moldovan authorities to recount the ballots in the parliamentary elections and declared inadmissible the application of violence and violation of the right to free assembly.

April 15, 2009

The EU Special Representative for the Republic of Moldova, Kalman Mizsei has declared that the leaders of the four parties that entered the Parliament after the April 5 elections (PCRM, PL, PLDM and AMN), should work out a basis for national reconciliation, set up working bodies of the new parliament and approve the government. According to Mizsei, it is very important that all four parties to stop using an “improper language” at characterizing each other, while the European Union will do everything in its power to help Moldova get back to a normal life. Mizsei gave assurances that the basis of democracy on which the press freedom is built will be preserved in Moldova, while the EU will do its best to conciliate the participants in conflict. In this regard, the European Union Chisinau office is working to help the conflicting sides start a constructive political dialog aimed at overcoming the current situation. (Source: Infotag)

The EP Foreign Affairs and the Delegation for relations with Moldova has met in an extraordinary meeting on the political situation in Moldova. The European parliamentarians call for calm and underline solidarity with Romania.

Bilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Romania

The Moldova-Romania relations have dramatically worsened in the period concerned. Shortly after the April 7 protests and the storming of the Parliament and Presidency headquarters, President Vladimir Voronin has accused Romania of involvement in the riots. In consequence, Romanian Ambassador in Chisinau Filip Teodorescu and another two employees of the Romanian Embassy were declared personas non grata on Aril 8, 2009. The same day, the Moldovan Government decided to introduce visas for Romania starting April 9, 2009. According to the Government, this decision aims at “consolidating the efforts to maintain the control on protests in Chisinau.”

In a press releaseRO by the Romanian Foreign Ministry, the Romanian authorities rejected categorically the accusations brought by the Moldovan authorities that Romania meddles into Moldova’s interior affairs, stressing that the communist governing transfers the responsibility for internal problems in Moldova on shoulders of Romania and the Romanian citizens. At the same time, the Romanian Foreign Ministry assured that it “will not take similar measures against employees of the Moldovan Embassy in Bucharest and will maintain the free-of-charge visa system for Moldovan citizens.”

On April 14, 2009, Romanian President Traian Basescu addressedRO the reunited chambers of the Parliament regarding the political situation in Moldova and state of the Moldovan-Romanian relations. The Romanian president described as unacceptable the accusations brought by the Chisinau governing against Romania. Speaking about the future of Moldovan-Romanian relations, Mr. Basescu dissociated with the acting Chisinau governing which he described as hostile with Romania, promising that Romania will not take revenge and “will keep supporting an active policy for the benefit of Moldova’s citizens and integration of this country into the European Union.” As well, Romania will keep supporting the people from Moldova who feel themselves Romanians; awarding scholarships to Moldovan youths in order to study in Romania; supporting the development of Moldovan civil society. Even more, Romania will facilitate the procedure of regaining the Romanian citizenship by those who lost it despite their willingness.

During a TV addressRO on April 15, 2009, Moldova’s outgoing President Vladimir Voronin labelled Traian Basescu’s speech as “an example of state revanchism”, accusing Romania one more time of meddling into Moldova’s affairs, promoting a fundamentalist and aggressive Romanianism and taking actions aimed at political destabilisation in Moldova. At the same time, Voronin invited Romania to sign the basic political treaty and the border treaty, stir up efforts within the European Union with the view to get the right for Moldovan citizens to a free move, so that to demonstrate its respect for Moldovan statehood and wish to help Moldova on the European integration way.

Note by ADEPT: No evidence on involvement of Romania or any other countries in the Chisinau protests was provided so far.

Republic of Moldova — Russia

During developments in Chisinau, the Russian authorities have repeatedly supported the actions taken by Moldova’s leadership to manage the political crisis produced by the protests in the capital. Many Russian politicians supported the accusations brought by Moldova’s authorities against Romania, blaming the neighbouring country for the destabilisation of situation in Moldova. A press release by the Russian Foreign MinistryRU recognises the good conduct of parliamentary elections in Moldova and says that the goal of disturbances was “to compromise the performances achieved in the last years in strengthening the sovereignty of Moldova and to influence the election results.”

At the same time, outgoing President Vladimir Voronin accused Russia of maintaining the Transnistrian conflict and delaying the settlement for geopolitical reasons. Voronin said in an interviewES with newspaper El Pais that Russia supports the authority of Smirnov “who meets her orders” and all Transnistrian ministers who are members of the Russian security service.

Multilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Council of Europe

ECHR decisions

On April 7, 2009, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) pronounced decisions on the cases Hyde Park and others vs. Moldova (No. 4), Breabin vs. Moldova and Straisteanu and others vs. Moldova. It established the violation of the following rights and freedoms: the freedom of meeting and association, the right to freedom and security, the right not to be subjected to torture and inhuman and degrading treatment, the right to an effective appeal, the right to motivation of detention, the right to property. The Court ordered 200 Euros in pecuniary damages, 60,000 Euros in non-pecuniary damages and 6,600 Euros in costs and expenses for the three cases. (Source: www.echr.coe.int, www.lhr.md)

e-democracy.md