Foreign Affairs on June 1–15, 2009

European Integration

Conclusions of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) on Moldova

On June 15 in Luxemburg, the General Affairs and External Relations Council adopted the Conclusions on the Republic of Moldova that confirms the commitment of the European Union to further deepening the relationship with the Republic of Moldova, inclusively by adopting the directives for the negotiation of a new EU-Moldova agreement instead of the expired Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), and stresses the importance of a respect for democratic values and principles by Moldova for a further strengthening of the EU-Moldova dialogue. The GAERC Conclusions could be summarized as follows:

EU recall its strong commitment to further deepening the relationship with Moldova, on the basis of shared values and principles, inclusively within the framework of the Eastern Partnership, and adopts the directives for the negotiation of a new EU-Moldova agreement. The negotiations will start as soon as circumstances allow and after the Republic of Moldova will ensure an equal treatment to all EU citizens and will respect the principle of good-neighborly relations;
EU will offer the Republic of Moldova an enhanced support for further political and economic reforms, aimed at strengthening democracy and good governance, the rule law, freedom of the media and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. In this regard, a comprehensive package for democracy support will be launched;
Council expresses concern over the human rights abuses that took place after the 5 April parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova and the deterioration of freedom of expression and media. The Council calls for a transparent, impartial and effective investigation of the human rights violations, as well as the events around 7 April, through a process that includes the opposition and international experts, and urges the Republic of Moldova to ensure equal access of political parties to the public media, to ensure transparent allocation of media licenses and to refrain from the use of administrative pressure against independent media, civil society organizations and political parties;
Council underlines the need for constructive political dialogue in the existent political situation in the Republic of Moldova and urges the Moldovan authorities to ensure the free and fair conduct of the early parliamentary elections, including through cooperation with OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe;
Council stresses the importance of fully observing the principles of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova, and calls for the resumption of negotiations in the 5+2 framework as soon as possible.

Note by ADEPT: The Moldovan authorities were reserved over these conclusions, presenting to the public in a communication by MFAEIRO just some excerpts from these conclusions, with most of them being neutral, and noting that they will consider the EU opinion regarding the unpublished issues.

Sitting of the Moldova-EU communication Subcommittee on Energy, Transport and Telecommunication, Science and Technology, Training and Education

During June 9–11, Chisinau hosted an ordinary sitting of the Moldova-EU Communication Subcommittee on Energy, Transport and Telecommunication, Science and Technology, Training and Education, which considered latest developments in Moldova in the sectors concerned (transport, information society, environment, healthcare, energy, education, culture, media, research, etc.) in the framework of EUMAP-related commitments. The sitting also discussed further cooperation possibilities, inclusively within regional initiatives and EU assistance relating to the linking of Moldova to the Central Traffic Axis; cooperation with the European Aviation Safety Agency and the eventual accession of Moldova to the European Common Aviation Area; signing of the Danube Agreement and Moldova’s cooperation within the DABLAS Task Force; gradual convergence of the natural gas and electricity market to EU principles; continuation of negotiations on Moldova’s accession to the Energy Community Treaty etc. (according to a MFAEI communication)

Bilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Romania

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Moldova and Romania are frozen so far; ambassadorial offices of both countries are vacant, while the visa requirements for Romanian citizens are effective in continuation. However, both parties formally declare interest to normalise the Moldovan-Romanian relations. But both Moldova and Romania condition the restoration of good relations. According to Moldovan Prime Minister Zinaida Grecianii, the visa requirements for Romanians will be cancelled should Romania sign the border recognition treaty and the small border traffic convention^[1]. Further, Moldova urged Romania to facilitate the visa issuance for Moldovan citizens by cancelling the requirements to hold a 500-Euro bank account^[2]. On the other hand, a Romanian public TV channel has quoted Romania’s president as saying that “the Moldova-Romania relations will normalise when the Republic of Moldova will have politicians to advantage the people.”^[3]

Another reason to fuel the exchange of contradictory statements between Moldovan and Romanian authorities was the statement delivered by Romanian Foreign MinisterRO Cristian Diaconescu at the June 15, 2009 meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC), which confirms that requested by Romania, the EU conditioned the opening of negotiations on a new agreement with Moldova with providing an equal visa-related treatment to all citizens of member states, stressing the importance of Moldova’s respect for good neighbourhood relations. In reply, the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration released a communicationRO to accuse Romania of violating the good neighbourhood principle by meddling systematically into Moldova’s interior affairs and complicating the visa issuance for Moldovan citizens by requiring them to hold a 500-euro bank account.

Republic of Moldova — Russia

The Moldova-Russia relations have a positive evolution. While diplomatic relations are developing well, there are some positive economic signals. In particular, on June 1 the Russian sanitary service (Rospotrebnadzor) released a declaration concerning the import and sale of the spirits made in the Republic of MoldovaRU, saying that it is considering possibilities to simplify the expertise of wine production for some wine enterprises from Moldova.

Republic of Moldova — US

Incumbent President Vladimir Voronin received a message from US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on June 1, with the latter expressing the US support to development of Moldovan democracy and condemning the violence occurred after the April 5, 2009 parliamentary elections. As well, the US secretary of state stressed the necessity for the Moldovan Government to consider concerns related to the elections and the way the held people, journalists and civil society representatives were treated after the unrest. According to the US secretary of state, a complete explanation to these issues will strengthen the trust in democratic institutions in Moldova. (according to a presidential communication)

Multilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Council of Europe

Visit by Corapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)

PACE Corapporteurs Josette Durrieu and Egidijus Vareikis visited Moldova on June 10 and met representatives of the ruling party, opposition parliamentary parties and non-parliamentary parties, representatives of nongovernmental organisations, diplomatic community and Prosecutor-General Valeriu Gurbulea. The corapporteurs said at the end of the visit that the early parliamentary elections are a very important process for Moldova and invited the authorities to remedy all the problems which gave birth to the post-electoral conflicts such as well-done voters’ rolls and access of all political parties to the public television station “Moldova 1”. The PACE corapporteurs emphasised that the CoE will deploy many observers to the next elections and they will be more careful, monitoring both on election day, and all process of organisation and conduct of elections.

Republic of Moldova — SEECP

Chisinau hosted on June 5 the summit of the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) which brought together heads of state and government from SEECP member states, preceded by the meeting of SEECP Foreign Minister on June 4. Taking part in the meeting were also representatives of the Czech Chairmanship-in-Office of the EU Council and future Swedish Presidency, European Commission, Secretary-General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).

The meeting of Foreign Ministers tackled issues related to progresses made by the South East European area in the European integration process and discussed ways to strengthen the SEECP role as important political forum in the region and intensify the cooperation with the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). As well, it approved some important documents: the Report by the Moldovan SEECP Chairmanship-in-Office 2008–2009; the Annual Report by the RCC Secretary-General concerning regional cooperation in South East Europe; the Strategic RCC Work Programme for 2009–2010.

The 12^th summit of the SEECP Heads of State and Government in Chisinau ended Moldova’s SEECP Chairmanship 2008–2009. It considered progresses made by countries in the region in the European integration process, regional cooperation in the period concerned. As well, it discussed possibilities of regional cooperation and political and financial support by the European Union and international financial institutions. The summit adopted the following documents: the Chisinau Political Declaration, the Chisinau Joint Declaration, the Annual report by the RCC Secretary-General concerning the regional cooperation in South East Europe, the Strategic RCC Work Programme for 2009–2010, the Report by the Moldovan SEECP Chairmanship-in-Office 2008–2009. (According to MFAEI communications)

↑ Statement delivered by Prime Minister Zinaida Grecianii when the Government was instituted, 10.06.2009
↑ www.mfa.md, 16.06.2009
↑ www.realitatea.net, 4.06.2009

e-democracy.md