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 DECEMBER 2018 NR.12(154) Synthesis and Foreign Policy Debates The newsletter is developed by Sorina Ştefârţă, editor-coordinator TOPICS OF THE EDITION: 1. Claus Neukirch, Head of the OSCE Mission to the Republic of Moldova: “Perspectives always exist, so, let’s be constructive and optimistic” 2. Editorial by Victoria Bucătaru, Foreign Policy Association: “The chain of abuses and … political weaknesses” 3. Dionis Cenușă, associate expert with„Expert-Grup”: “The European integration is a means by which, at least in part, the current government ensures its political legitimacy” 4. Looking from inside. “20 Deliverables for 2020: moderate progress in the Republic of Moldova” Importante, pe scurt President Igor Dodon went to Tighina on Tuesday, December 25th, where he met with Vadim Krasnoselski, the head of the Tiraspol separatist administration. According to Igor Dodon, the two discussed the results of the confidence building measures in the past two years and agreed upon a new 5+2 negotiations round in the near future. At the same time, on his Facebook post, Igor Dodon reconfirmed the importance of maintaining the current peacekeeping operation“as a factor of sustaining stability and calmness in the Security Zone”:“...this year there have been certain challenges in this area, but we managed to overcome them, through joint efforts, without serious complications, including due to the fact that the residents on both sides support the steps taken to strengthen peace and stability in our country.” On Wednesday, December 19th, the European Commission published its second Report on the Visa Suspension Mechanism with the EU, urging the Republic of Moldova to take immediate steps to fight corruption and money laundering, so that Moldovans can still benefit from free movement. And namely, the Commission warned Chisinau about strengthening border control, bringing the laws on tax reforms in line with the EU standards, strengthening the National Integrity Authority, and effectively implementing the asset declaration system for high-ranking officials, investigating bank fraud and money recovery. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration announced that it“took note” of the evaluation and recommendations of the European Commission and that the recommendations will be analysed and incorporated into the National Calendar for the fulfilment of the given recommendations. The Republic of Moldova- Georgia- Ukraine Interparliamentary Assembly condemns, in a joint resolution, Russia’s aggressive military actions against Ukraine in the Kerch Strait in the Azov Sea. According to the resolution, Russia’s military attacks are a flagrant violation of international law, the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. The three countries reaffirm their unconditional support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and call on the Russian government to return the ships and to immediately release the illegally detained Ukrainian soldiers; to ensure the international transport through the Kerch Strait and the Azov Sea; to cease aggressive and provocative actions in the occupied and annexed territories, respecting international commitments; to unconditionally withdraw its troops and ammunition and to cease destabilizing the internal situation of the neighbouring states. The resolution urges the international community to take action against Russia’s illegal operations in the Kerch Strait to prevent the escalation of tensions; and the EU and the USA- to expand political support for the democratic states in Eastern Europe. Cooperation at the state border and the interaction of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova in the international organizations were the key topics of the telephone conversation between the Prime Minister Pavel Filip and Petro Poroshenko. The Kiev leader thanked Chisinau for co-authoring and supporting, within the UN General Assembly, on December 17th, the resolution initiated by Ukraine on the militarization of Crimea. The two leaders exchanged views also on the developments in the two countries and the region. Particular attention was paid to the Transnistrian settlement, noting the steps taken by the Government of Moldova in this direction. A Moldovan-German story as a review of the year The participants to the Moldovan-German project visiting the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova to Berlin Sorina Ștefârță It is the end of the calendar cycle, and in the few remaining days of 2018, but also in the early days of the future 2019, we will be reviewing our memories about the passing year. We will be trying to make forecasts for the good and- unavoidably, unfortunately- negative events that could happen in the next 12 months. And we will be looking for solutions to the challenges that the country and its people are facing in order to reach the promised welfare and finally have a normal life. The current edition of the foreign policy newsletter is no exception either. We are inviting you to find out how- in the opinion of Claus Neurkich, the head of the OSCE Mission to Chisinau- things are developing in the area of Transnistrian settlement, offering you as well an analysis-prognosis made by the political analyst Dionis Cenusa. Apart from this, however, Monthly Bulletin, Nr. 12(154), December 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