Activity of the Government on January 12–25, 2004

Reshuffles

On January 14 the Government designated the Director of the Chisinau International Airport, Ion Crohin, to the position of Director of the State Administration of Civil Aviation. Also the Government approved the resignation of Valeriu Canna from the position of General Director of the Organisation Promoting Exports from Moldova. One week later, the former Prosecutor General, Vasile Rusu, was appointed Chief of the Legal Department of the State Chancellery.

Decisions

“To ensure the unity, coherence, and efficiency of the foreign policy of the Republic of Moldova and co-ordinate the activity of specialised central bodies in the field of foreign affairs” on January 14 the Government approved a draft law defining the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in enforcing the foreign policy of the Republic of Moldova. Under the document, all the diplomatic missions accredited in the Republic of Moldova will keep direct liaison with the Ministry and will communicate with other institutions via the Ministry. Moreover, “any visit abroad and any invitation to Moldova of an official from abroad” should be endorsed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also, the Ministry shall approve official delegations, including membership and their mandates at the international conferences and reunions, after prior consultation with the Presidency and Government. In their turn, the delegations would have to abide “written orders and instructions outlining the position of the Republic of Moldova as approved by the Ministry”.

The Government amended its decision on obligatory medical insurance. The amendments would allow beneficiaries to ask for medical assistance without having consulted the family doctor first. However, Healthcare Ministry officials claim the family doctor institution would thus be neglected, albeit it lied at the core of the medical insurance system, and therefore jeopardise the entire system. On the other hand, people would benefit directly from the amendment, as they would get to choose themselves the medical institution and would enjoy quicker the services. Also Government obliged medical institutions to go back to the old tariffs on medical services in force prior to December 1, 2003. Those tariffs would be in force for at least six months.

Government approved also on Action Plan on credit reimbursing by the beneficiaries of foreign credits guaranteed by the state throughout 1991 — 2002. According to Minister of Finance, Zinaida Greceanii, Moldova received direct foreign credits worth 1 billion 156.6 million USD and credits guaranteed by Government worth 166.6 million USD. As of January 1, 2003 the arrears on direct foreign credits and on guaranteed ones reached 724.3 million USD and 88.5 million respectively. Noteworthy, almost 418,6 million USD were spent to cover the budget deficit, 357.8 on imports, 36 on infrastructure, 240.2 were invested in energy sector, 45.8 invested in social sector, 37.5 in private sector, and 20.7 in agriculture and food industry.

After President Voronin pointed that raising average wage to 100 USD was a top priority for year 2004, a commission was established to outline the measures to be taken in this respect. Given that a 30% increase would be necessary to reach the 100 USD wage and that international rating agencies forecast only a 3.5 — 4.0% GDP growth in 2004, it is very unlikely that the target set by the President would be actually achieved. Either the President is willing to assume all the risks, or this is only a propagandistic stunt in a pre-election year. One way or another we’ll have to wait until the end of the year to see whether the target is hit.

On January 21, Government approved a draft law envisaging establishing new work places for handicapped persons throughout 2004–2006. The draft provides the following: as of 2005 subventions equal to one minimal wage to be paid for a 18 months period to businesses employing handicapped graduates of the state funded institutions; state orders to specialised enterprises of the handicapped; professional training services; developing a list of positions to be primarily occupied by handicapped; as well as establishing enterprises and departments to employ handicapped.

Also Government revised the Regulation on registration of political parties and socio-political organisations so as to bring it in accordance with the amendments to the Law on Political Parties. It also added a new article to the Law on Government providing that State Chancellery shall oversee law enforcement in the Republic of Moldova and Gagauz-Yeri.

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Activity of the Government on January 12–25, 2004

Reshuffles

Decisions

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