Foreign Policy Association together with Friedrich­Ebert-Stiftung offer you a newsletter on foreign policy and European integration issues of the Republic of Moldova. The newsletter is part of the “Foreign Policy Dialogue” joint Project. NEWSLETTER MONTHLY BULLETIN NOVEMBER 2018 NR.10(152) Synthesis and Foreign Policy Debates The newsletter is developed by Sorina Ştefârţă, editor-coordinator TOPICS OF THE EDITION: 1. Igor Dodon, President of the Republic of Moldova: ”In the field of foreign policy, I will insist on balance in the relations with the West and the East” 2. Editorial by Victoria Bucătaru, Executive director, Foreign Policy Association: “The more ways, the less Euro-integration” 3. Anatolie Golea, political analyst: “The 24th February elections could be contested way before the Election Day” News in Brief The Republic of Moldova reconfirms the support and recognition of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as its right to use international waters. This is the position expressed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration in Chisinau on Monday, November 26, on the conflict that broke out the previous day at the Azov Sea between Russia and Ukraine. Also the Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu strongly condemned Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine:“I urge the international community to apply all instruments of international law to prevent the escalation of the situation in the Kerch Strait area. We are sympathising with Ukraine and are supporting its right to use territorial waters according to the international law norms” wrote the speaker on his Facebook, on Monday. The same day, November 26, several global actors expressed concern about events in the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait, with the involvement of Russian and Ukrainian navy. The Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko urged Russia to immediately“release” the Ukrainian navy men and their captured ships, while the Kiev Supreme Rada met the request of the head of state to impose Martial Law in the neighbouring country Ukraine. The real rapprochement between the Republic of Moldova and Romania is done through concrete projects, in the interests of the citizens of our states”, Prime Minister Pavel Filip said at a joint meeting of the two countries’ governments. He particularly appreciated Romania’s support in implementing the reforms and continuing the European path of our country. In the context of the bilateral agenda, Pavel Filip and his counterpart, Viorica Dăncilă, reviewed the successful joint projects on the social and cultural-humanitarian dimension: renovation of hundreds of kindergartens in the Republic of Moldova, donation of school buses, renovation of the Organ Hall, the National Art Museum in Chisinau, and the“B. P. Haşdeu” Theatre from Cahul. At the same time, the two officials mentioned that, for a greater rapprochement between our countries, there is a need to speed up the projects aimed at interconnection of the electronic communications, energy and transport infrastructure. In this respect, Prime Ministers Pavel Filip and Viorica Dăncilă insisted on the need to launch the second phase of the construction of the Ungheni-Chisinau pipeline and to start the projects for building the bridges over the Prut River. At the same meeting, the two Cabinets of Ministers agreed on a roadmap for the implementation of joint projects, and setting deadlines and responsibilities for each sector. The agreed documents include agreements on cooperation in the field of tourism; education and culture; assistance and consular protection for persons with dual citizenship; health and medical science; relations with the diaspora; promotion of entrepreneurship, economic and corporate cooperation; promotion of cooperation in business on third markets; creation/ activity of joint patrol teams at the common state border, etc. Also, a Joint Declaration on the lifting of roaming charges was signed. Republic of Moldova, between geography and geopolitics Kerch Strait, 25 November 2018. Only 800 km distance from Chisinau... Sorina Ștefârță The last week of autumn has shown us once again that things in the world often evolve faster and in a different way than we would imagine. And the fact the world is big doesn’t mean it does not affect us... On Sunday, November 25, this world was focused on Brexit. Meanwhile, in an extraordinary meeting of the EU Council in Brussels, the leaders of the 27 EU member states(without London, already) approved the agreement on the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union. That was in the morning... For in the evening of the same day – November 25 th - the world was again thinking of war as a result of the confrontation between the Russian and the Ukrainian military navy, produced on the Azov Sea in the Kerch Strait. In the evening of the following day, the Monthly Bulletin, Nr. 10(152), November 2018 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