Activity of the President on November 1–15, 2008

Decrees

The “Gloria Muncii” (Labour Glory) Order was awarded to Anatolie Gorodenco, minister of agriculture and food industry.

The 1^st-class “Credinta Patriei” Order (Faith to Homeland) was awarded to Artur Resetnicov, director of the Information and Security Service.

Under a presidential decree, diverse state distinctions were awarded to participants in the restoration and reconstruction of the Curchi Complex.

Sittings. Decisions. Statements

Meeting student leaders

In the framework of actions dedicated to the Year of the Youth, the president of Moldova has met leaders of ruling student associations from institutions of higher learning. The sides evaluated key progresses related to the condition of youths; in particular, the rise of the number of state scholarships granted to youths; the elaboration of a normative framework on building a fund to sustain the academic mobility of students; the elaboration of a programme on modernisation of infrastructure of student hostels; the drawing up new criteria to evaluate and accredit institutions of higher learning; the formation of student detachments on summer and their participation in diverse production processes; the organisation of job fairs, etc. Leaders of ruling student associations said that many earlier approached problems have been resolved. The chief of state stressed the need to accommodate 90 percent of the students from other localities and promised that canteens from institutions of higher education will be renovated and modernised by September 1, 2009.

Preventing and combating smuggling

A Presidency-hosted meeting has focussed on preventing and combating smuggling and illegal actions on the market of precious and semiprecious metals, with participants discussing matters related to the legal and organisational regime of import, manufacturing, processing, use and circulation of precious and semiprecious metals in Moldova. Participants signalled frequent violations committed by economic agents working in this sector; in particular, forging of precious metal objects; appearance of new methods to develop illicit operations; faking of origin documents. The chief of state explained the existing problems through the fact that the effective law on precious metals and stones (adopted in 2004) is out-of-date and does not meet current realities. Vladimir Voronin called for improving the mechanism of certification and taxation of operations involving precious metals and functioning of pawn offices. He instructed competent authorities to combat the illegal trading of gold jewels and other precious metals and stones. On the other hand, the law on regime of precious metals and stones shall not be modified repressively but rather encourage the development of legal activities in this area.

Meeting trade unionists

While receiving representatives of the National Confederation of Trade Unions in Moldova (CNSM), the chief of state has emphasised the role of trade unions in promoting and protecting the interests of employees, stressing the importance of the unification of the unionist movement and building of a national unionist organisation. Vladimir Voronin appreciated the CNSM readiness to maintain a permanent and constructive dialogue with authorities, outlined the importance of consolidating the society and mobilising efforts of state institutions, civil society, trade unions, employers, political class in reaching the goals of modernising and developing the country. CNSM representatives praised the state authorities for having established a productive dialogue with trade unions, stressing the effectiveness of implemented social policies, but signalling lots of problems requiring the intervention of public authorities; in particular, the improvement of the existing salary and pension system; the maintenance of the existing mechanism of management of spa institutions; the optimisation of the work of the tripartite commission Government — Trade Unions — Employers, and others.

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