Foreign Affairs on January 18–31, 2010

European integration

Spain takes over half-year EU Presidency

On January 1 Spain took over the EU Presidency for a 6-month term. On January 20, 2010, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero unveiled the programme of the Spanish Presidency in front of the European Parliament. The declared priorities of the Spanish Presidency are:

The complete enforcement of the Lisbon Treaty;
Economic recovery and new jobs;
Strengthening of the EU role as a global, responsible player providing support;
Consolidation of human rights and freedoms within EU (especially in terms of gender equality and struggle against domestic violence).

EU Representation to Moldova extends competences

Starting 2010, accordingly to regulations of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU reforms its external representations. Fifty-four out of 136 external EU offices including the EU Delegation to Moldova extended their competences and will further function as embassy-type missions representing EU and will introduce and promote the common position of the 27-strong bloc.

Bilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Romania

The second half of January 2010 was full of events which encouraged the Moldovan-Romanian relations and even gave them a new quality. The first of them was the presentation of Romania’s foreign policy by President Basescu, as he got a new mandate. While addressingRO heads of diplomatic missions in Bucharest on January 20, Traian Basescu stated that Romania will keep supporting the European bids of the Republic of Moldova, and the fact that Romania and the Republic of Moldova are linked through a “common history, same language and same culture” makes this support “the project of soul” of the president. According to the Romanian president, the Moldovan-Romanian relations will be based on “confidence, solidarity and common aspirations” in future.

Shortly after Basescu’s statements, the Romanian Foreign Ministry nominated Marius Lazurca as Romanian Ambassador in Chisinau, with the latter being further accepted by Moldova’s interim President Mihai Ghimpu. As well, the Foreign Ministry set up the informal group to support the European action of the Republic of MoldovaRO at level of EU member states. The group is made of ministers, state secretaries and ambassadors from EU member states (Austria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Italy, United Kingdom, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Hungary) and aims to support the European path of Moldova, both within EU institutions and via practical projects.

The No. 2 event — the visit paid by Traian Basescu to Moldova during January 27–28, the first visit of the Romanian president abroad after being re-elected — was one more step forward strengthening the partnership with the Republic of Moldova. The Romanian president delivered political statements while on visit, stating in brief as follows:

The partnership with Romania will bring the Republic of Moldova closer to the European Union;
Moldova’s citizens must be free to travel to Romania and further to the European Union. For this purpose, Romania will facilitate the visa issuance procedure for Moldovan citizens. The requirement obliging Moldovan citizens to hold 500 euros in order to get the Romanian visa will be cancelled; they will be asked to provide a declaration on own account. Two more consulates are expected to open in Ungheni and eventually in Lipcani to complete the consulates to be opened in Cahul and Balti in February-March.
Romania will not sign the border agreement with the Republic of Moldova because by recognising the independence of Moldova Romania recognised the borders set after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but it will sign an agreement on border regime;
The basic treaty between the Republic of Moldova and Romania is out-of-date and it will be replaced by a EU accession partnership; a draft Moldova-Romania partnership agreement aimed to speed up Moldova’s accession to EU is being discussed;
Romania will provide a 100-million-euro irredeemable financial assistance to the Republic of Moldova for education, school and local infrastructure modernisation projects. The funds will be allocated within four years in four annual tranches;
The Transnistrian conflict bars Moldova’s accession to EU; EU should get involved more actively in settling the Transnistrian conflict;
Romania will settle the outstanding citizenship regaining applications in half a year. In order to accelerate the citizenship regaining process, a Bucharest-based national citizenship awarding agency will be established and branches will open in Iasi, Galati, Suceava, Cluj and Timisoara. The requirement for citizenship applicants to reside Romania and get appointments for application will be cancelled (Romanian Government set the National Authority for Citizenship on January 29 under Emergency OrdinanceRO.

During the visit the sides also approached major issues for national interests of both countries: connection of energy infrastructures (the 110-KW power line Falciu-Gotesti and the 400-KW pozer line Suceava-Balti), gas transport infrastructures (Drochia-Ungheni-Iasi) and railway (adjustment of gauge) and opening of EU-funded cross-border projects (135 million euros).

Another great event especially for common citizens was the common decision of Moldovan minister of transport and road infrastructure and Romanian ministers of transport and infrastructure and tourism to reduce twice the price of air tickets for the Chisinau-Bucharest flights starting February 10, 2010.

Note by ADEPT: Basescu’s visit and statements divided opinions of political actors: from veneration by Liberal Party, sympathy by PLDM, reserved amiability by PDM to bitter criticism by PCRM.

Republic of Moldova — Ukraine

On January 25 Brussels hosted the 8^th trilateral meeting Moldova — Ukraine — EU focussed on border issues. According to a communique by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, the meeting agenda included issues relating to management of the Moldovan-Ukrainian state border, especially demarcation and securing of the border on Transnistrian section, cooperation between border control services and EU assistance, inclusively through operation of the EU Border Assistance Mission (UBAM) to Moldova and Ukraine. The European authorities reconfirmed readiness to assist securing of Moldova-Ukraine border.

The process of demarcation of the Moldova-Ukraine border on Transnistrian section began on January 29, as the first intermediary border sign was installed in the village of Velika Kisnitsa, rayon of Yampol, region of Vinitsa.

Republic of Moldova — Lithuania

Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius was on a formal visit to Chisinau during January 26–27. He reconfirmed Lithuania’s role of zealous supporter of Moldova in taking it closer to the European Union and materialised this position by signing with Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat a common declaration on cooperation in European integration area. The Lithuanian premier was accompanied by a group of businesspersons who attended the Moldovan-Lithuanian economic forum. The purpose of the forum was to attract Lithuanian investments and enhance bilateral commercial relations in several sectors of Moldovan economy: construction, polymer industry, pharmaceutics, spare parts, education, printing services, information technologies, etc.

Republic of Moldova — US

The US-Moldova relations were marked by the visit of a Moldovan delegation led by Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat to the United States. While on visit, the Moldovan delegation had meetings with high-ranking officials of the US and international organisations:

Meeting with US Vice President Joseph Biden. The US official assured that the US will support the Republic of Moldova to join the EU, build a state based on the rule of law and settle the Transnistrian conflict in the 5+2 format. Earlier, while visiting Bucharest on October 22, 2009, Joe BidenRO said that he would like to see the Republic of Moldova going ahead to democratisation and economic reforms, inclusively with Romania’s support, and join the Euro-Atlantic structures when ready.
Meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. While meeting Vlad Filat, Hillary Clinton assured that she will tackled the issue of taking Moldova closer to EU with EU foreign relations officials. Vlad Filat and Hillary Clinton signed a common declaration of US and Moldovan Governments on intensifying bilateral cooperation.
During a meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, Vlad Filat said that the Republic of Moldova has applied for membership to the UN Human Rights Council for 2010–2013.
The visit to the Millennium Challenge Corporation, where the irredeemable assistance agreement worth 262 million US dollars was signed to fund the Compact Programme. The programme foresees the implementation of investment projects in the area of irrigation infrastructure, road renovation, and high-value agriculture.
The visit to IMF, with Premier Vlad Filat introducing Government’s accomplishments and seeking IMF support to finding solutions for providing compensating social assistance to socially vulnerable categories after latest rises in tariffs of public services.
Meeting with World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick. The agenda of talks included issues relating to assistance the World Bank could provide in ITC area and possibilities to support the compensating system for socially vulnerable categories hit by latest rises in tariffs of public services. Vlad Filat sought the inclusion of Moldova into the Governance Transformation Initiative, as well as assistance for organising the Advisory Task Force to take place in Brussels in March 2010.
Meeting with Lawrence Spinelli, interim director for the “Overseas Private Investment Corporation” (OPIC). The purpose of the meeting was to attract US investments in the Republic of Moldova and develop bilateral commercial cooperation.
Meeting with Richard Morningstar, special envoy of the US secretary of state for Eurasian energy, and Jonathan Elkind, principal deputy assistant secretary for energy. Talks focussed on situation in energy sector and energy security of Moldova and alternative ways to reduce Moldova’s energy dependence.
Visit to North Carolina, with Vlad Filat and Deputy Governor Walter P.Dalton signing a 5-year term cooperation memorandum between Republic of Moldova and North Carolina.
Visit to the German Marshall Fund (GMF) and International Republican Institute (IRI). Talks focussed on situation in the Republic of Moldova and ways for the two organisations to support democratic development of Moldova.
Roundtable with businesspersons in the area of information technologies and communication (ITC), who were introduced the Moldovan ITC sector and opportunities to invest in this sector of Moldova.
Hearing within the Helsinki Commission of the US Congress, which approached respect for human rights and freedoms in Moldova, including the freedom of religion violated during an incident on December 13, 2009, when a Christian Orthodox group destroyed Jewish symbols. Vlad Filat assured that “the legislation in the area will be roughened.”

Note by ADEPT: The inquiry involving priest Anatol Cibric, organiser of the group of people who vandalised the Jewish symbols, was closed. The priest was sentenced for offence against religious sentiments and profanation of religious objects under Article 54 (5) of Code of Contraventions and was ordered to pay a 600-leu administrative fine.

Multilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Council of Europe

ECHR decisions

In January, the Court pronounced decisions on applications Paduret vs. Moldova, Railean vs. Moldova, Bucuria vs. Moldova, concerning the amicable resolution of the application Avramenko vs. Moldova. The Court established violation of the right to not be subjected to inhuman and degrading treatments and/or punishments in the case Paduret vs. Moldova, violation of the right to life in the case Railean vs. Moldova, and violation of the right to a fair trial in the case Bucuria vs. Moldova. The Government of Moldova is now due to pay damages worth 60,150 euros overall for these cases.

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