Activity of the Government on September 16–30, 2006

Appointments. Reshuffles

Valeriu Lazar was revoked from the post of minister of economy and commerce and deputy minister Igor Dodon succeeded him.

Victoria Iftodi was revoked from the post of minister of justice and the chief of the governmental agent directorate of the Ministry of Justice, Vitalie Pirlog, representative of the Moldovan Government to the European Court of Human Rights, succeeded her.

Under constitutional provisions, the chief of state operates governmental reshuffles at the initiative of prime minister. The legislation does not require a public motivation of reasons of reshuffles, since these attributions have an exclusive political nature.

The Government has adopted several decisions concerning:

appointment of Nina Lupan as deputy minister of finance. Previously, Lupan has headed the Central State Treasury;
appointment of Andrei Cimili as director of the Sports Agency. Cimili is a professional athlete, winner of cycling competitions;
appointment of Tatiana Bujoreanu as chief of the State Archive Service;
relief of Nicolae Cibotari from the post of General Staff chief, deputy chief of the State Guard Service.

Official Decisions

Decision on creation of the agency for inspection and restoration of monuments. The agency will function within the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, will have 7 employees and will be in charge, among others, with creating a public digital database of monuments.

Decision approving the structure of the central apparatus of the Sport Agency. The agency will have 18 employees, except for technical personnel. The agency will supervise the activity of republican sport schools, the Athletic Arena and the National Stadium.

Decision approving the reform strategy of the state framework regulating the entrepreneurial activity. The Government calls the strategy “Guillotine-2” and laws regulating the activity of entrepreneurs will undergo an in-depth analysis within one year. Provisions that do not correspond to principles of market economy and require the involvement of public authorities in operational activity of enterprises will be annulled or modified.

Decision approving the concept on integrated information system of law enforcements. The document aims to encourage an ampler use of information gathered to prevent and combat offences, to increase the interaction between law enforcements.

Decision approving the 2006–10 development strategy of the State Tax Service. It aims to adjust the tax legislation to European standards, to intensify the activity aimed at filling the budget, to simplify the taxation, etc. About 130 million lei is needed to implement the strategy.

Decision approving the draft law on management and privatisation of public property. It brings new regulations on privatisation process through sale and concession of property, fiduciary administration, location, sale of unused assets, creation of commercial societies, etc.

Decision on action plan of the Government for the 4th quarter. The executive has plans to adopt a number of national concepts, strategies and programmes, new draft legislative acts or draft amendments to legislation in effect.

Decisions approving some draft legislative acts:

on mandatory civil responsibility insurance for damages produced by motor vehicles. Insurance companies will hold the right to pay limited amounts for damages produced by motor vehicles, and persons from motor vehicles, their goods may also benefit of damages. The draft proposes a series of special exigencies for insurance companies.
on modification of the law on privatisation of enterprises from tobacco and wine industries. The draft proposes that four enterprises (in Cupcini, Falesti, Floresti and Orhei) be privatised on basis of general principles, not on basis of individual privatisation and investments projects. The decision is motivated with the grave financial condition of enterprises and their unattractiveness for investors.
on Conduct Code of public functionary. The draft code aims to establish high conduct standards for functionaries and contributes to reducing the corruption in public service. It proposes a series of restrictions and principles on career of functionaries, accordingly to international standards in the field.

Sittings. Decisions. Statements

Support of the World Bank

Vasile Tarlev has discussed aspects of cooperation between Government and the World Bank, with one of topics focussing on the efficient implementation of central public administration reform. Edward Brown said that the World Bank will support the implementation of reforms, especially in the field of central public administration, aimed at strengthening the government’s capacities. Financial assistance will be provided for this purpose and the gathering of means from other donors will be coordinated. Also, Tarlev thanked the World Bank for supporting the implementation of EGPRSP by standing ready to offer a 10-million-dollar preferential credit.

Promotion of nut crops

The prime minister has chaired a sitting of the National Nut Promotion Council, which discussed aspects related to development of the nut crop in Moldova, problems and prospects to settle them. Vasile Tarlev ordered the finalisation of proposals on amendment of legislation in the field, which would be implemented in short terms. The premier demanded an action plan on creation of an efficient system for homologation of nuts and strict monitoring of nut seeds on market.

Concerns with youth problems

Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev has chaired a working sitting on creation of youth development opportunities and highlighted the need of reforming the extra-school education system. The premier sought the creation of a modern, European-style republican centre for children and youths on basis of the national palace of creation for children and teenagers.

Implementation of EU-Moldova Action Plan

The minister of foreign affairs and European integration has told a working sitting on implementation of the European Union-Moldova Action Plan (EUMAP) that the E.U. has accepted to discuss with Moldova the possibility of easing the visa regime for Moldovan citizens. The decision of the European Commission to open a Joint European Visa Issuance Centre in Moldova to receive visa applications for European states which do not have embassies in Moldova is another important result of actions aimed to render sensitive the E.U. member states. The prime minister said that the efficient implementation of EUMAP is a priority task for Moldovan authorities and “all documents which will be signed with the E.U. will be primarily executed.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration will work out an audience schedule of ministries for fulfilment of the Action Plan. Moldova will pay a special attention to actions aimed to obtain the Asymmetrical Trade Preferences and conclude an Association Agreement with the EU.

Statement on Transnistrian referendum

The Moldovan Government has released a statement saying that the Transnistrian referendum is a way of torpedoing the process of negotiations on peaceful reintegration of Moldovan state. The Government does not recognise the results of the so-called September 17 referendum and considers that the tackling of this action in the context of the peaceful and definitive settlement of the conflict is impossible. The executive expresses gratitude to states and organisations participating in the process of political settlement of the Transnistrian conflict, notably the Russian Federation, Ukraine, the OSCE, the E.U. and the United States for univocally understanding the fact that the resolution of the Transnistrian problem is possible only with respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova and shares the conviction of these states and organisations regarding the impossibility of officially recognising the results of “expression of voters’ will” under information and administrative pressures on population from the secessionist region.

Communication of MFAEI concerning the gaining of Romanian citizenship

The press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (MFAEI) has released a communication saying that “the gaining of Romanian citizenship especially till Romania joins the E.U. in order to travel freely to the Schengen area is a wrong premise followed by Moldovan citizens.” Romania’s accession to the E.U. is not equivalent to the entry in the Schengen area and MFAEI notes that the European Commission is working on an initiative to create a Joint European Schengen Visa Issuance Centre in Chisinau in 2007. The opening of this centre in Chisinau will allow Moldovans to obtain Schengen visas in their country and not to visit embassies of European states in Bucharest and Kiev.

Concerns with cooperation with mass media

Premier Vasile Tarlev has told a roundtable on access to information that the Government calls for implementation of new and efficient practices of amplifying the relations between central authorities, mass media and civil society and it is looking for efficient tools in this regard. Tarlev noted that the Academy of Public Administration will implement a new course of training of “spokespersons for public institutions.” He underlined that a governmental decision has obliged ministries to organise news conferences every month and to install “telephones of confidence”.

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