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Achievements and Cooperation Opportunities between the UN and the Republic of Moldova

Author(s): Veaceslav Berbeca / Language(s): English

The Republic of Moldova participation in the UN is a corner¬stone of the foreign policy of the state. Due to its unique inter¬national character, the United Nations serves as a platform of activity in a wide range of areas, being a forum for debate of global issues. The implications of participation in the UN has an important role for Chisinau because it offers the op¬portunity to reinforce the image and prestige of the Republic of Moldova on the international arena, such as participation in UN peacekeeping operations, promote national interests by our country missions accredited to the UN or by the presence in elective bodies of the United Nations. At the same time, it is worthwhile mentioning the importance of the assistance provided by UN Agencies to solve development issues facing our country. The United Nations Agencies and programs activity aims to support actions promoting democratic reforms, human development and social inclusion or to support central and local authorities of sustainable environmental management.

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Are the Moldovans who hold Romanian Passports a Devastating Threat for EU?

Author(s): Leonid Litră / Language(s): English

Moldova’s relations with the EU have advanced significantly over the past years. At the same time, in the European public space there are appearing many controversial discussions, some of them denigrating Republic of Moldova. These insinuations are mainly related to the acquisition of the Romanian citizenship and migration of Moldovans to EU. Even if Romania is not a special case in dealing with citizenship issues, the media attacks towards Romania and Moldova increased in the last months, being mostly observed in the European press. Their aim might be to slow down the rapprochement of Moldova to EU that seems to be a campaign orchestrated by some states, other than the EU states.

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Black Sea Region – Continuity or geopolitical Change

Author(s): Corneliu Ciurea / Language(s): English

The geopolitical situation in the Black Sea Region is in a continuous state of flux. This region was rediscovered at the beginning of the XXI century when some euroatlantic practitionners started to think about it as an ideal place for the transit of oil and gas from the Cas¬pian Sea, a fertile land for the expansion of the frontiers of freedom and a good bridgehead for the containment of Russia. This region took different forms in the past, being alternatively a Soviet Union „salt-lake” counteracted by Turkey and a proving ground for the erec¬ting of the frontiers of freedom. Today, we could notice a reformating of this region by reordering it according to the principles of inter-block rivalry. In these conditions, Moldova is compelled to renew its policy of balancing among different geopolitical blocks with yet unclear contours, this taking place exactly in the moment when the geopolitical rivalries are being reignited and the Black Sea region is losing its statute of an „uninteresting” and a putatively tamed re¬gion, becoming more and more a battlefield with an unpredictable outcome.

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Border Security in the Context of Future Visa Free Regime

Author(s): Iurie Gotişan / Language(s): English

This policy brief is elaborated based on the Action Plan on visa liberalization with the EU, further in the text APVL, particularly the part referring to border management. Thus, this analysis attempts to highlight the Republic of Moldova position compared to other states (Georgia, Ukraine, Russia, etc.) that are currently in the process of negotiations with the EC on the liberalization of the visa regime but also to some countries aspiring to such a process. This study has rather a more quantitative aspect and tries to carry out a broader assessment of the potential migration and security effects of the liberalization of visas for Moldovan citizens traveling to the EU.This analysis indicates that Moldova is not an important route for illegal migrants to reach one of the EU countries. Moreover, if we look at the border segment with Romania then the number of illegal migrants apprehended overall, (also covered in FRONTEX Agency reports) amounts to just several dozens, including Moldovan citizens. In addition, this analysis highlights the number of people with Moldovan citizenship that aimed to reach the EU illegally in breach of the border “green” sector, which is also the lowest in the top of nations.As a rule, the flows or the number of illegal migrants through the BCP (border crossing points) are the best identified or represented by refusals of entry. Thus, in terms of the indicator of refusal of entry into the EU, in a top of nations, Moldovans do not appear at all. Moldovan citizens appear in the FRONTEX statistics only in 2009 on the 9th position and only on land border segment and in the FRONTEX analysis reports, the Republic of Moldova is mentioned only incidentally. At the same time, during the years 2009-2011, most refusals of entry at common borders were issued by the Polish border authorities, mainly on the border with Ukraine and Belarus. Moreover, over 50% of all refusals at common borders were issued to the Ukrainian citizens, followed by nationals of other neighboring countries such as the Russian Federation and Belarus.

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Community of Democracies – Geopolitics of Democracy Institutionalization

Author(s): Ion Tăbârţă / Language(s): English

On July 1, 2011, at the Ministerial Conference of Community of Democracies, held in Vilnius, Republic of Moldova and Tunisia were the core elements of the meeting. The two countries have been mentioned in speeches of all participants, being selected to benefit from the new U.S.-Polish initiative – Partnership of Democracies. This new initiative is intended as a mechanism to support democratic processes and institutional transfer of democracy in societies in transition and democratic consolidation.

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Comparative Analysis of Electricity Prices in the RM and in the Region (Romania, Ukraine)

Author(s): Corina Gaibu / Language(s): English

Energy sector is a strategic field for Republic of Moldova Geopolitical situation in the region, the tension between Ukraine and Russia, impose the acceleration of establishing interconnections with Romania, thus ensuring energy security of Republic of Moldova The contract on electrical energy supply to the RM was negotiated and signed in March. The negotiated price has a major impact on country’s economy and directly affects the whole society. Setting the electricity prices excessively high causes extra pressure on the population’s welfare and the monthly bills people pay; while, high dependency on electricity imports from Ukraine and a single generating facility in Transnistria (Steam Electric Power Station ”Moldoveneasca” owned by RAO UES of the Russian Federation) create an energy security vulnerability. Diversifying electrical energy sources through building a connection with Romania allow attaining an acceptable energy security level.

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Corporate Governance in the Banks in the Republic of Moldova under the Impact of the Basel Committee Regulations

Author(s): Angela Secrieru / Language(s): English

Following the financial crisis started in 2007, in developed countries and at the level of international institutions, consistent efforts are being made to improve corporate governance in banks. Corporate governance (CG) in banks involves the allocation of authority and responsibility, i.e. the way the bank activities and operations are governed by its board and management. The recent adverse events in the banking sector in the Republic of Moldova regarding attempts to change the shareholding structure of banks including hostile takeovers may be partly explained by imperfect mechanisms of CG of the banks in the Republic of Moldova. In this context, is required the development of a consistent concept by the NBM regarding corporate governance in the banks in the Republic of Moldova aligned to BCBS recommendations and bringing banking regulations in compliance with this concept.

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Does Moldova have a Role to play in the Regional Context ?

Author(s): Corneliu Ciurea / Language(s): English

Moldova’s foreign policy is often seen as an ongoing effort of European integration. Such an approach is rather illusory because it neglects a number of actions that are not necessarily complied with the objectives of signing an association agreement with the EU - the Moldovan diplomacy on Transnistrian component, development of bilateral relations with Romania, frequent visits of Moldovan politicians to Moscow in the style of a vassal convened by the senior, etc. Under these circumstances, we may wonder whether the imperative of Moldova’s European integration is only an instrumental objective designed to solve, in a certain political context, the issue of Moldova’s state vulnerability, suspended fatidic between East and West or a conscious assumption of a role that cancels “banal” existence of the Republic of Moldova as a small and insignificant state.

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Does Moldova need Low-Cost Airlines?

Author(s): Leonid Litră / Language(s): English

The old-new government was invested, and a continuation of its pro-European demarche was announced. The Governing Program declares EU integration as the main priority and the continuation of reforms is envisaged, especially in the previously committed areas. As in the previous Program, the government is keen to liberalize the aviation market and to join the European Common Aviation Area.

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Does the Republic of Moldova need Military Planes and Helicopters to ensure State Border Guard in the Air?

Author(s): Veaceslav Berbeca / Language(s): English

Ensuring airspace control and management is a component part of the state security policy. Achieving this goal implies a legal framework that would regulate state actions against aircraft using in an unauthorized way the airspace of the Republic of Moldova. However, we must emphasize that the protection of the state border in the air is impossible without appropriate technical equipment of the Air Force. Creating a mechanism of action against unauthorized use of the Republic of Moldova airspace by aircraft is subject to a legislative initiative elaborated by the Ministry of Defense. Even if the members of parliament share the idea of this project, however, there are doubts whether this initiative is appropriate because of higher financial costs related to its implementation. There are, also, fears that the adoption of measures under this initiative would affect the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict.

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Economic Cooperation with the EU – A Prerequisite for Development of the Republic of Moldova

Author(s): Alexandru Fală / Language(s): English

The European Union is an important economic partner of Moldova. Economic relations between these two entities have had a good evolution. Only in 2009, under the impact of world economic crisis, intensity of economic flows between Moldova and the EU has decreased. On a medium-term, economic relations between the EU and Moldova would pass a new qualitative level, as a result of negotiating Free Trade Thorough Comprehensive Agreement. To be eligible for associated effects of signing the Agreement, Moldova will have to undertake a difficult mission - employment in a genuine process of economic reform.

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Energy Security Aspects of the Republic of Moldova

Author(s): Veaceslav Berbeca / Language(s): English

Ensuring the energy security of the Republic of Moldova is one of the main objectives of the authorities in Chisinau. Diversification of natural gas supply sources is considered to be one of the main tools that would contribute significantly to achieving this. Therefore, the construction of the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline that will interconnect the gas system of the Republic of Moldova to that of Romania is seen by many as an important step to reduce the state’s dependence on the Russian Federation’s monopoly on gas supplies. The 27 August symbolic launch of the construction of the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline with the participation of Prime Ministers of the Republic of Moldova and Romania as well as the European Commissioner for Energy coincided with the visit of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin to Chisinau. Rogozin’s statements on September 2 in which he suggested that Moldova could remain without gas in winter were perceived as threats by the public in the Republic of Moldova.

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EU – Ukraine Relationship: An uncertain Future

Author(s): Leonid Litră / Language(s): English

Cox & Kwasniewski mission declared that it is unable to persuade the President of Ukraine to eliminate problems that would allow Kiev to sign the Association Agreement with the EU. On November 21, the Ukrainian Rada amended in the final reading the law on parliamentary elections and thus met one of the three key requirements that Kiev committed to solve prior to the summit in Vilnius. The other two requirements are related to amending the legislation that would allow prosecution reform and creating a regulatory framework enabling the detainees (read Yulia Tymoshenko) to go abroad for treatment. Although the mission’s mandate was extended until the day of the summit, in the hope that the Ukrainian leadership will review its position, Kwasniewski already stated that they see their mission completed given the regrettable decision of the government in Kiev on 21 November to stop preparations for signing the Association Agreement. The main official argument to waive signing in Vilnius is avoiding a risky situation for the Ukrainian economy and the need to relaunch relations with Russia. However, it seems that beyond these arguments there is a range of problems that are not found in the official statements.

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European Integration of the Republic of Moldova – Is it still a National Consensus?

Author(s): Leonid Litră / Language(s): English

Recently, Vladimir Putin revealed his geopolitical plans for the future. They were somehow felt in his previous speeches but were not constant, however, now his intentions are clearly stated. Moreover, Russia’s geopolitical “appetite” has increased. If one has previously talked about Customs Union Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan and possibly Ukraine (if one succeeds with its inclusion), now one adds also other countries from Central Asia, going towards creation of the Eurasian Union.

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False Economic Transformation of the Republic of Moldova: Why is the Country’s Economy stagnant since 1994?

Author(s): Viorel Gârbu / Language(s): English

Moldova’s Foreign Policy Statewatch represents a series of brief analyses, written by local and foreign experts, dedicated to the most topical subjects related to the foreign policy of Moldova, major developments in the Black Sea Region, cooperation with international organizations and peace building activities in the region. It aims to create a common platform for discussion and to bring together experts, commentators, officials and diplomats who are concerned with the perspectives of European Integration of Moldova. It is also pertaining to offer to Moldova’s diplomats and analysts a valuable tribune for debating the most interesting and controversial points of view that could help Moldova to find its path to EU.

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Finance and Security: The Republic of Moldova in the Regional Context

Author(s): Eduard Țugui / Language(s): English

The Republic of Moldova and the International Monetary Fund are to negotiate a new loan program, since the international lender of last resort has sent a list of preconditions to Moldovan government, while the rebels fighting against Ukrainian governmental forces have hoisted their flag in the centre of Tiraspol. Ukraine has dug anti-tank trenches along the Transnistrian segment of the Moldovan border and tightened control at all checkpoints, while the Moldovan government provides guarantees for the “bad loans” of the three commercial banks and has to manage what is called a stagflation which combines economic stagnation and high inflation. Finance and security, whose eternal relation has shaped; over time; the international political economy, are very current issues in the Europe of 2015 and they are becoming crucial for the Republic of Moldova as well, where public finances have reached a deadlock and the Tiraspol administration is negotiating from a position of power within the sub-format “1 + 1”.

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Foreign Assistance and Moldova`s Economic Development

Author(s): Valentin Lozovanu,Viorel Gârbu / Language(s): English

Although Moldova has benefited from Official Development Assistance (ODA) already for about 16-17 years the impact of it is doubtful. Moldova went from having the highest per-capita income in the Soviet Union to one of the poor countries in Europe.1 The present level of the country’s economic development incites various donor organizations to broaden even more their assistance programs2, but to what extent can ODA influence economic development in Moldova?

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Foreign Policy of the Republic of Moldova in 2013 – The Beginning of European Integration Irreversibility?

Author(s): Ion Tăbârţă,Corneliu Ciurea / Language(s): English

The Republic of Moldova’s political life in 2013 can be divided into two distinct periods: The first internally focused period was marked by the political crisis at the beginning of the leading to the second externally focused period beginning at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius on 28-29 November. The prospect of signing the Association Agreement in Vilnius dominated the internal agenda in the second half of 2013, contributing to the rallying of the Pro-European Coalition and prompted Moldovan diplomacy to act according to the principle of “all-or-nothing”. This approach will be considered successful if Moldova signs the Association Agreement and obtains visa liberalization in 2014. However, it may fail if Russia blocks the country’s association process as happened to Ukraine.

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Formal and Informal Aspects of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment

Author(s): Ion Tăbârţă / Language(s): English

On 8 February 2011, U.S. Senator Richard Lugar has presented to the Commission for Foreign Affairs of the U.S. Senate a report containing several proposals to unblock the deadlock in negotiations on frozen conflict between Chisinau and Tiraspol. Among recommendations of Senator Lugar, submitted to administration of President Barack Obama, referring to increased support for current pro-western government efforts in Chisinau to solve Transnistrian problem, the report contains a proposal on removing commercial restrictions affecting Republic of Moldova ever since Soviet Union period. It’s Jackson-Vanik Amendment, by which one withdrawn the Soviet Union the possibility to benefit from most favored nation clause.

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From a Basic Treaty to a Treaty regarding the Borders Regime

Author(s): Ion Tăbârţă / Language(s): English

Along with the two decades, the matter of signing an inter-governmental agreement between Moldova and Romania provoked many emotional discussions, in Chisinau as well as in Bucharest. Lately, this subject was replaced with another one, regarding the signing of a border agreement. The protraction of these processes is due to linguistic and historical divergences that put into the shade the technical aspects of the Moldovan – Romanian governmental relation, which is highly politicized, in many cases in an exaggerated and useless way. Even if the pure technical aspects of a Moldovan – Romanian treaty must not had put major problems, the Romanian side did not accept the signing of the treaty because of some “details” that it cares about, and Chisinau, particularly during the communist government, tried to introduce in the document a set of political provisions with senseless historical connotations, unacceptable for Bucharest.The last discussions from Chisinau, related to the signing of the agreement regarding the border system emphasize a new important factor that blocks the ratification process – the internal rivalries inside The Alliance for European Integration and the alleged non-constitutional feature of the signing process.

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Series:Moldova’s Foreign Policy Statewatch