Activity of the President on January 16–31, 2006

Transnistrian settlement problem

The chief of state has convoked several sittings on the Transnistrian settlement problem, with the participation of decision-making officials of the Parliament, Government and presidential advisers.

A meeting discussed in details the perspective to transform the present peacekeeping operation into a mission of civil and military observers under the OSCE mandate, especially because the presidents of the Russian Federation and Ukraine backs this idea, the chief of state assured.

Vladimir Voronin asked the Government to take measures for deployment of an evaluation mission of the OSCE to the Transnistrian regionin order to draft recommendations on conduct of free and democratic elections there.

The Parliament must restore relations with Russia

Vladimir Voronin reviewed the key events and developments of perspective in the foreign policy of Moldova at a traditional reception offered to heads of diplomatic missions in Chisinau.

The chief of state said that the “friendship and strategic partnership with Russia determine the future of the country” besides the European option that encourages the development of Moldova. He was sure that “the Parliament will know to work out a European, responsible and solitary stance to highlight the deepness of our ties with Russia and will establish additional long-term directions for our strategic partnership.”

The Moldovan president highly appreciated the support of the United States, Ukraine and Romania for Moldova and results of cooperation with the European Union in the process of settlement of the Transnistrian conflict and implementation of the Moldova-E.U. Action Plan.

The president outlined the importance of introduction of the preferential regime for Transnistrian businesses on January 25, 2006 and reinforcement of the Moldovan-Ukrainian protocol on insurance of goods from Transnistria with Moldovan specimens. In the context, it was noted that businessmen from Transnistria “must be informed well and right about essence of Chisinau’s initiative, so that none of entrepreneurs understand the joint actions of Moldova and Ukraine as an economic blockade.” The president indicated the need to include a special chapter on Transnistria in the draft law on amnesty of capital (which is being worked out).

The situation of enforcement of the law on privatisation of enterprises based on the left bank of the Dniester river and Bender municipality is not completely clear in the context of this last statement of the chief of state, commentaries on “registration and legalisation of business and estate” of Transnistrian enterprises which will get registered with competent bodies of Chisinau. Under this law, adopted on October 14, 2004, the state guarantees only the right to property of participants in privatisation “on objectives privatised in line with provisions of this law and other normative documents of the Republic of Moldova.” The privatisation of enterprise that violates the provisions of this law and other normative documents of the Republic of Moldova “is invalid since the signing of privatisation agreement.” Therefore, if a business has privatised a Transnistria-based enterprise without consent of the Chisinau authorities, the right to property on this enterprise is not guaranteed, while the legal nature of this acquisition is not presumed.

Control on distribution of land properties in Chisinau municipality

Vladimir Voronin has convoked the prosecutor-general, chairman of the juridical commission of the Parliament and advisers in charge with security and legal affairs for a sitting on respect for legislation in the process of distribution of land fields in the Chisinau municipality. The sitting examined the results of a recent report of the Government, which indicates grave violations in the process of distribution of land fields. In particular, the chief of state indicated the violations and shortcomings committed by courts during examination of litigations on land ownership right.

The participants in the sitting outlined the need of “studying and reviewing” the juridical practices in the area, as well as of taking some measures by the Superior Council of Magistrates in order to “apply disciplinary sanctions” against judges who passed illegal decisions. The Prosecutor-General’s Office was told “to check and to solve the problem of penal punishment of judges who passed visibly illegal judgments.”

New actions for development of Chisinau

The chief of state asked the Chisinau City Hall and Government at a sitting on social-economic development perspectives of the capital to mobilise efforts in 2006 in order to implement projects to which he pays most of importance: restoration of the Cathedral Nasterea Domnului, Memorial Complex of Military Glory, finishing of the northern bus station, construction of the trolley line leading to the Agrarian University, water cleaning station and waste processing plant, repairing of motor route leading to the Chisinau International Airport.

Construction of housing

According to the chief of state, a concept and a complex action plan must be drafted in order to improve the situation regarding housing. The president delivered this statement at a meeting with decision-making officials of the Government, Parliament and heads of public administration authorities of second level (districts).

The planned measures will have three basic directions: construction of residences from state means, building through mortgage method and individual construction of residences. The categories of citizens who can benefit of state residences (social residences), preferences for purchase of residences through mortgage method or facilities for individual construction of houses must be clearly delimited. In the context, President Voronin indicated the pressing need to draft a law on social residence, which would clearly establish the criteria and conditions for granting of housing by state for free. Earlier, the chief of state had asked the authorities of the Chisinau municipality and Government to pay more attention to construction of housing, so that to open 2,000 residences for budgetary workers in 2006.

An official communication about this sitting did not inform if the new strategy aims to substitute the previously adopted documents on housing problem or will be another plan launched along with the earlier approved plans. (the social-economic programme with social destination in the area of housing building, approved through the November 11, 2005 Government Decision # 1148; National Social Programme “Allocations and credits for residence” for 2003–2008, approved through the April 8, 2003 Government Decision # 422; strategy on housing market and other real estate, approved through the May 10, 1999 Government Decision # 416; national housing concept, approved through the August 5, 1994 Government Decision # 594, etc.).

Efficient cooperation with RAO “EAS”

The Moldovan president has chaired a sitting on problems of cooperation and detailed coordination of the scheme of interaction with RAO “EAS Rossii” at the Moldovan Hydroelectric Station. The minister of industry and infrastructure was told “to complete and perfect negotiations with Moldovan CHE owners as soon as possible.”

It should be noted in this context that the Cuciurgan power plant has stopped the supplies of electricity to the Union Fenosa Company, which provides electricity to more than half of Moldovan consumers. The declared cause of the stoppage was the rejection of a rise of the supply price of electricity from 3.05 cents up to 4.08 cents per kWh.

The recent statement of RAO “EAS Rosii” chairman Anatoli Chubias in connection with sentencing of former defence minister of Moldova Valeriu Pasat, which contained threats against Moldovan president, has challenged bitter reactions of the Chisinau authorities, with presidential adviser Marc Tcaciuk and the Foreign and European Integration Ministry demanding explanations from the Russian authorities. However, the situation of conflict did not halt the sides to negotiate cooperation for energy problems.

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