Activity of the President on June 30 – July 20, 2003

President Vladimir Voronin chaired on 1 July 2003 the National Council for Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction, which examined the first draft of the final version of the Strategy for Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction. The President mentioned that the Strategy should include the application of programmes of gas provision and recovery of the winemaking industry as prerequisites for economic growth. Mr. Voronin also mentioned the need to draft a long term proposal on the development of the state to include the strategy, which, in its turn, is to meet the budgetary constraints, identify clear medium-term priorities and be tightly correlated with a corresponding action plan. The strategy was to be drafted by 31 March 2003, yet due to the lack of clarity with regard to its priorities, its financial inconsistency and the poor participation of the civil society in its drafting, it has been delayed for another half a year, upon the agreement of international financial institutions. In this context, during one of its meetings, last week the Government proposed to draft the final version of the strategy by 31 July, put it up for public debates by 4 October, and finalise it by 30 November 2003.

Vladimir Voronin took part in the meeting between the central executive authorities and the chairmen of district councils. President Voronin assured the chairmen of central power’s full support and asked them to contribute to the social and political stabilisation in districts through the resolution of issues faced by the local public administration, the permanent co-operation with the mayors, the recovery of the system of consumption co-operation, including in purchases of wheat, and through the promotion of consolidation of agricultural lands on the basis of the free association of farmers and in accordance with the requirements of the market economy. The head of state also asked the chairmen of districts to observe the structure of leadership bodies of the territorial administrative entities, although it seems that these will have to undergo many more changes and adjustments even if the Parliament votes for the draft amendments to the Code on Administrative offences. These amendments have been adopted by the Government on 9 July 2003 and provide for fines worth 70 to 100 minimal salaries for the central and local budget institutions that will exceed the legally established personnel quota.

On 8 July 2003, the President met Aleksandr Voloshin, the Head of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation, with whom he discussed about the upcoming official visit of the Russian President Vladimir Voronin to Chisinau, the economic relations between Moldova and Russia, as well as the Transdnistrian issue. In the context of the latest developments in relations between Chisinau and Tiraspol determined by the inclusion in the State Registry of Enterprises and Organisations of Moldova of 573 economic agents from the left bank of Nistru River, President Voronin assured the Russian official that the actions of the Moldovan authorities will not affect the interests of the Transdnistrian population or the rights of Transdnistrian enterprises. Reiterating the option of Chisinau authorities for an asymmetrical federation, the head of state declared that in the near future he will initiate the adoption by the Parliament of a Conception of National Policy, which will contribute to the widening of the rights and opportunities of participation in the public life of representatives of all national minorities.

The President of Israel, Moshe Katsav, paid an official visit to Moldova upon the invitation of President Vladimir Voronin. The two Presidents met on 10 July and signed two bilateral agreements on fighting illicit drug trafficking and abuses and on technical co-operation in the field of transports. Given the occasion, an economic forum of Israeli and Moldovan businessmen was held in Chisinau, during which President Voronin held a speech. He mentioned three factors that one could build on with a view to deepening the economic relations between the two states. The Moldovan President singled out the economic successes achieved by the current Moldovan Government and the favourable legislative framework for foreign investments, and encouraged the Israeli business people to invest in the Moldovan transports, communications, agriculture, tourism and high technologies spheres.

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Activity of the President on June 30 – July 20, 2003

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