Foreign Affairs on May 2–31, 2009

European Integration

Launching of Eastern Partnership

On May 7 Prague hosted the Eastern Partnership summit at which the joint declaration on launching of the Eastern PartnershipRO was signed by representatives of the European Union and the six former Soviet countries covered by the Eastern Partnership — Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Moldova was represented by incumbent Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Stratan, minister of foreign affairs and European integration.

The declaration introduces the Eastern Partnership as an EU initiative aimed to speed up the political association and continue the economic integration between EU and interested partners, as well as to give an impetus to regional economic and social development of these countries. The partnership will be based on international legal principles and fundamental values of democracy, rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as on commitments towards market economic, sustainable development and good governance. At the same time, the deepening and intensification of bilateral relations between EU and partner countries in the framework of Eastern Partnership was based on differentiation and conditionality principles, while the legislative and regulatory approximation is crucial for partner countries willing a proximity to EU. As well, the statement stresses that the new Association Agreements will focus on building wide bilateral free economic zones. Instead, the complete visa liberalisation between EU and partners is a long-term and individual objective which depends on partner, with the condition that this modality is well-administrated and safe. The statement recommends the establishing of the Parliamentary Neighbourhood Assembly of EU (EURO-NEST CP) and of a civil society forum of Eastern Partnership.

The Eastern Partnership will develop on the basis of four thematic platforms: democracy, good governance and stability; economic integrity and convergence with sectoral EU policies; energy security and people-to-people contacts.

Andrei Stratan has met Mrs. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, during the summit. The talks focussed on current social-political situation in Moldova and EU, possibilities to develop Moldova-EU relations, deterioration of Moldova-Romania relations. Mrs. Benita Ferrero-Walnder stated that the European Commission will propose soon a set of measures aimed to intensify the political dialogue and Moldova-EU cooperation, normalise relations between Chisinau and Bucharest, facilitate the travel regime for EU, and provide financial assistance to Moldova.

European Parliament resolution on Moldova

On May 7, 2009, the European Parliament (EP) adopted a Resolution on the situation in the Republic of Moldova. The main resolution provisions are the following:

The European Union will continue the goal-oriented dialogue with the Republic of Moldova, but attaches great importance to the introduction of strong provisions regarding the rule of law and respect for human rights, while stressing that further consolidation of relations, including through the conclusion of a new, enhanced agreement, should be made contingent on a real and manifest commitment on the part of the Moldovan authorities to democracy and human rights;
EP condemns the massive campaign of harassment, grave violations of human rights and all other illegal actions carried out by the Moldovan Government in the aftermath of the parliamentary elections and urges the Moldovan authorities to immediately cease all illegal arrests and to conduct government action in accordance with the country’s international commitments and obligations with regard to democracy, the rule of law and human rights;
EP stresses that a national dialogue must be established, with the participation of the government and the opposition parties, civil society and representatives of international organisations in order to ride out the current situation in the Republic of Moldova, by improving democratic procedures and the functioning of democratic institutions in the Republic of Moldova;
EP firmly believes that there is an urgent need to set up an independent investigatory committee, involving the EU, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and independent experts, aimed at ensuring an impartial and transparent process of investigation;
EP insists that all those found responsible for the brutal violence perpetrated against detainees be brought to justice, and on a genuine reform of the legal system and the police forces in the Republic of Moldova;
EP calls on the Moldovan authorities to restore the visa-free regime for Romanian citizens;
EP urges the Council and the Commission, at the same time, to undertake a review of the EU’s visa system for the Republic of Moldova in order to relax the conditions for granting visas to Moldovan citizens, especially the financial conditions;
EP requests immediate and substantial proof in support of any allegation by the Moldovan Government concerning the supposedly criminal actions of the protesters and the involvement of foreign governments;
EP emphasizes that any new election will require a consensus between the opposition and government on concrete improvements to the electoral process;
EP urges the Council to consider the possibility of sending a Rule of Law Mission to the Republic of Moldova, in order to assist the law enforcement authorities in their reform process, especially in the police and justice areas;
EP calls on the Commission to submit to it a detailed report on the use of all EUfunds in the Republic of Moldova, with special focus on those allocated to good governance and democratic development.

Note by ADEPT: The chairman of the EU-Moldova parliamentary cooperation commission, Grigore Petrenco, has described the EP Resolution as an insult against Moldovan people, since it brings grave and groundless accusations against constitutional authorities of the Republic of Moldova. On the other hand, another PCRM member, the first deputy speaker of the Parliament, Vladimir Turcan, said that the Resolutions of the Council of Europe and European Parliament concerning Moldova are basic documents for negotiations between authorities and opposition.

Bilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Romania

The diplomatic relations between the Republic of Moldova and Romania continue to be blocked, while communication between authorities of the two countries is substituted by an exchange of contradictory statements.

On the one hand, Romanian President Traian Basescu said that signing a border treaty between Romania and Republic of MoldovaRO is useless, as it would sanction the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact, calling on Moldovan authorities not to condition the signing of the small border traffic agreement with the signing of the border treaty between the two countries. At the same time, Basescu noted that the Moldova-Romania relations have “stepped backward” at governmental level, after the Chisinau authorities have introduced visa requirements for Romanians and brought groundless accusations against Romania that it was involved into violent protests on April 7. The Romanian authorities noted that they will not nominate a new ambassador in Chisinau (after the Moldovan MFAEI turned down the candidacy of Mihnea Constantinescu), but will promote a diplomat from the Romanian Embassy to Moldova to the rating of charge d’affaires. According to Romanian officials, the situation of Moldovan-Romanian relations will affect neither Romania’s policy on population of the Republic of Moldova, which will enjoy an accelerated Romanian citizenship awarding process, nor Romania’s policy on active support to Moldova in the European integration process. However, Romania’s Foreign Minister Cristian Diaconescu has stated in a TV interviewRO that the signing of a new EU-Moldova agreement will be conditioned with the cancellation of visa requirements for Romanian citizens.

On the other hand, replying to Romania’s statements, the Moldovan Government accused Romania of aggressive and revengeful policy against Moldova, and said that the neighbouring country contests the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova. According to the same governmental statement released on May 19, 2009, the Moldovan authorities do not like Romania’s refusal to sign a basic political treaty and a border treaty with the Republic of Moldova, as well as the decision of the neighbouring country “to massively award the Romanian citizenship to Moldova’s citizens, its active meddling into the interior political processes.” At the same time, the Moldovan Government invites the European Union to get involved as mediator in stabilising the Moldovan-Romanian relations and “neutralise Romania’s aggressive policy” which is capable to give birth to a new hotbed of regional instability, by “return it (Romania) into the path of a single EU foreign policy”.

Republic of Moldova — Russia

A positive dynamic in the Moldovan-Russian relations remains. The frequent diplomatic consultations between the two countries and Russia’s support for Moldova’s external message on Romania’s guilt in the violent post-electoral developments and Romania’s revengeful policy on Republic of Moldova prove this trend.

At least three Moldovan-Russian consultations took place in May. The first consultation was held on May 6, before the launching of the Eastern Partnership, when Moldova’s incumbent Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Stratan, minister of foreign affairs and European integration, was on a flash visit to Moscow and met there his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. According to formal reports, the ministers discussed issues related to internal political situation in Moldova, European security, CIS agenda etc. According to press releases by MFAEI, Andrei Stratan met Russian Ambassador Valeri Kuzmin on May 13 and 26 and discussed current and future Moldovan-Russian relations, as well as the way of interaction between both states within international and security institutions.

On May 15 and 18, Russian Ambassador to EU Vladimir Chizhov accused the Romanian authorities of increasing strains in the Republic of Moldova. As well, Chizhov did not like the refusal of Romania to sign a border treaty with Moldova and the initiative of President Basescu to massively award the citizenship to Romanian-born Moldovans, accusing the EU of applying double standards in this respect. On May 20, the Russian presidential administration sent a messageRU via presidential adviser Sergei Prikhodiko, accusing Romania of provoking the April 7, 2009 unrest in Chisinau.

On the other hand, the Moldovan authorities in the person of incumbent Moldovan Prime Minister Zinaida Grecianii who chaired the meeting of the Council of CIS Heads of Government in Astana, Kazakhstan, on May 22, 2009 gratified Romania for providing “a permanent economic and political support to Moldova.”

Multilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Council of Europe

ECHR decisions

On May 12, 2009, the European Court of Human Rights (hereinafter the Court) pronounced a decision on the case Masaev vs. Moldova. The Court assessed the violation of the right to a fair trial and freedom of thinking, conscience and religion, and awarded 26 Euros to the applicant in pecuniary damages, 1,500 Euros in non-pecuniary damages and 1,000 Euros in costs and expenses. (Source: www.echr.coe.int, www.lhr.md)

Delegation of the Rapporteur Group on Democracy of CoE Committee of Ministers

A delegation from the Rapporteur Group for Democracy of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe visited Chisinau during May 19–20. The visit aimed to investigate the post-electoral developments. The results of investigations will be the topic of a conclusion and recommendation report. While on visit, the delegation has met Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Stratan, incumbent minister of foreign affairs and European integration, who presented the vision of Moldovan authorities regarding the events that followed the parliamentary elections.

The delegation includes heads of diplomatic missions in Strasbourg on behalf of Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania, Hungary, and members of the CoE Secretariat. (According to a MFAEI communication)

119th session of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers

Madrid hosted on May 12 the 119^th session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE), attended by a Moldovan delegation led by Valeriu Ostalep, deputy minister of foreign affairs and European integration. The agenda included the following topics: implementation of the Action Plan on the CoE contribution to common stability and security approved at the 3^rd Summit of Heads of State and Government in Warsaw, CoE-EU relations and implementation of the Understanding Memorandum between the two parties; the conflict in Georgia and situation of democracy in Belarus; the election of a new Secretary-General and the takeover of the CoE Committee of Ministers Presidency by Slovenia.

In Madrid, Deputy Minister Valeriu Ostalep has also had bilateral meetings with secretaries of state of Portugal and France, first deputy premier of the Czech Republic and Estonian delegation, seeking their support for future negotiations on a new Moldova-EU agreement and Moldova-EU dialogue on visa facilitation for Moldovan citizens. (According to www.coe.int and MAEIE)

Republic of Moldova — CIS

On May 22, Astana (Kazakhstan) hosted an ordinary meeting of the council of Council of CIS Heads of Government, which was chaired by incumbent Moldovan Prime Minister Zinaida Grecianii. Participants approved an Action Plan on implementation of the first stage of the CIS Economic Development Strategy until 2020. The first round stipulates actions for 2009–2011 aimed to extend industrial cooperation of countries, implement interstate programmes in energy, agro-industrial and transport sectors, harmonise the legislation on employment and labour force migration etc. As well, an Action Plan on humanitarian cooperation between CIS member states for 2009–2010 was signed. (Source: www.cis.minsk.by)

Republic of Moldova — NATO

Declaration of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly on the Republic of Moldova

On May 26, NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) passes a declaration on the Republic of Moldova, expressing its concerns about the tense political situation in the Republic of Moldova in the wake of the elections of 5 April 2009. NATO PA expects the dialogue between the government and the opposition, as well as between the political forces and the civil society, to be real, effective and transparent. Besides, NATO PA urges the Government of the Republic of Moldova to observe the human rights and fundamental freedoms that the Republic of Moldova pledged to enforce, including by joining the Partnership for Peace.

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