The Newsletter is based on the radio programme broadcast on February 5th, 2016, produced by the Foreign Policy Association of Moldova in partnership with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung(FES). The programme is broadcast on the Moldova Public Radio. The programme is part of the FES/APE“Foreign Policy Dialogues” Project. The content can be reproduced by mentioning the source. NEWSLETTER MONTHLY BULLETIN MARCH 2017 NR.2(132) Synthesis and Foreign Policy Debates The materials are realized by Lina Grau, foreign policy expert and programme coordinator with APE. TOPICS OF THE EDITION: 1. Romanian ambassador to Chisinau, Daniel Ioniță : Romanian assistance is directed at all Moldovan citizens, and not at certain parties or politicians 2. Ukrainian ambassador to Chisinau, Ivan Gnatişin : Ukraine is a good neighbour and friend of Moldova. 3. Political analyst Mihai Popșoi : The statements of President Dodon create a less pleasant diplomatic atmosphere in the relations with neighbours. The last period was marked by several important events for Moldova. The speaker of Parliament, Andrian Candu, and the Prime Minister, Pavel Filip, have handed out to the Russian ambassador a note on, what they called,“harassment” by the Russian Federation of Moldovan officials. According to the note, at least 25 Moldovan officials have been “humiliated” in the recent months at the entry into the Russian Federation and a Russian institution tried to put under“international monitoring” several Moldovan politicians, including MPs. Filip and and Candu said also that these alleged Russian abuses would have escalated after Chisinau asked Moscow for cooperation in the investigation of the laundry of the money of Russian origin through the Moldovan banking system in amount of 22 billion dollars. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the Moldovan note“raises questions”.“We will have to evaluate all the facts before we discuss this issue seriously,” said the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Grigory Karasin. However, he has not cancelled his visit to Chisinau and Tiraspol on 13 th and 14 th March. On March 17 th , the president Igor Dodon was received again in Kremlin by the Russian leader Vladimir Putin. This happened exactly after two months since his first visit to Moscow after he took over the presidency. A press release of the presidential office says that in Russia, Dodon asked for several categories of Moldovan immigrants to be forgiven the breach of the stay regime in Russia and for more Moldovan products to be received again on the Russian market. The Russian news agencies reported that at a Moldovan-Russian business forum, President Igor Dodon has urged the Russian businessmen to invest in Moldova because that way they can acquire citizenship of the country and thus be able to travel to Europe without visa. The Democratic Party has already submitted the draft law on changing the electoral system into uninominal to the Parliament, but the speaker Andrian Candu, assured that the draft law will be subject to vote only after it has been discussed in public and consulted with the Venice Commission. The Governments of Romania and the Republic of Moldova will hold a joint meeting on March 23 rd in Piatra Neamt. The news comes after the Prime Minister Pavel Filip, at a meeting with Romanian ambassador, Daniel Ionita, thanked the Romanian Government for the financial assistance provided to Chisinau. Romania issued on February 27 th a new tranche in amount of€ 50 million Euro from the 150 million euros loan for Moldova. The joint border checkpoint from Cuciurgan will be located on the territory of Ukraine and will start its operation by the end of the year, says the deputy prime minister, George Balan. Similar checkpoints will be established at other crossing points on the Transnistrian segment of the Moldovan-Ukrainian border. Establishment of joint control in Cuciurgan was one of the main topics discussed in Tiraspol with the Russian deputy foreign minister, Grigori Karasin. The Tiraspol separatist administration asked for Russia’s support in stopping the creation of this border checkpoint. The European Commission has issued a report on the progress in the implementation by Moldova of the Association Agreement with the EU, in the period since the 2014 elections and until present. The report talks about the widespread corruption, but also about the beginning of“crucial economic stabilization reforms after the‘massive bank fraud.” The report expresses regret that those who committed it have not been brought to justice.“Moldova has adopted a series of reforms, but it has to do more to fulfil the commitments it has assumed under the Association Agreement with the EU.”“The fact that the economic interests are concentrated into the hands of a smaller number of people creates a risk that the public policies be influenced by these people,” reads the document. It states that during that period the EU provided financial assistance to Moldova in amount of 310 million Euro. Regarding trade, the report says that the EU has strengthened its position as the main trading partner where Moldova delivers 63 percent of its exports.” Moldova’s relations with its neighbours- Romania and Ukraine Daniel Ioniță: Romanian assistance is directed at all Moldovan citizens, and not at certain parties or politicians T he Romanian ambassador to Chisinau, Daniel Ionita, says that Romania has been and remains an active supporter of the Republic of Moldova, that the assistance it provides is directed primarily at the ordinary people and that the European perspective is the only one that can bring prosperity, stability, and a bright future for Moldovan citizens. Monthly Bulletin, Nr. 2(132), March 2017 64, Sciusev str. MD-2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, Tel-Fax:+373 22 21 09 86 Website: www.ape.md E-mail: office@ape.md