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 JANUARY 2020 NR.1(167) Synthesis and Foreign Policy Debates The newsletter is developed by Sorina Ştefârţă, editor-coordinator TOPICS OF THE EDITION: 1. Angela Grămadă, director, Experts for Security and Global Affairs Association(ESGA), Bucharest: “Republic of Moldova, at the crossroads again” 2. Editorial by Mihai Mogîldea, team leader, Europeanisation Programme, IPRE: “Three variables for the foreign policy agenda of the Republic of Moldova in an election year” 3. Vladislav Kulminski, executive director, Institute for Strategic Initiatives: “Anyone trying to take control over the state institutions is a threat to society” 4. Expert Opinion. Dionis Cenușă: “The’Macronization’ of the EU-Russia ties and the impact on the Eastern neighbourhood” News in brief The Republic of Moldova is firmly engaged in the process of consolidating the rule of law and reforming the justice, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Aurel Ciocoi, during the second session of the Joint Working Group on the Rule of Law and Good Governance, recently held in Chisinau within the Moldova-USA Strategic Dialogue . He highlighted the relationship between an effective and impartial justice and the state credibility vis-à-vis external partners, and appreciated the US support in carrying out crucial reforms for the development of our country. At the end of the meeting, which brought together representatives of several authorities and civil society from both states, a Joint Declaration was adopted. The USA and the Republic of Moldova reaffirmed their continued commitment to deepening the bilateral partnership and cooperation to fight corruption, as well as protecting independent institutions and establishing an impartial justice, which the people of the Republic of Moldova deserve. Chisinau and Washington have agreed to cooperate in five key areas: carrying out significant reforms in the justice sector, strengthening anti-corruption institutions, promoting the media and free civil society, improving government transparency and defending human rights. HE Peter Michalko, EU Ambassador to Chisinau, has recently confirmed the intention of Brussels to continue supporting Moldova. The statement was made during a meeting with Prime Minister Ion Chicu, attended by the EU high-level advisers, who work for several public authorities in the country:“It is important for us to show that the EU is ready to support you in achieving tangible results in the socio-economic development and the EU advisors are your instrument in the process of progress”. The advisers presented their areas of competence, described the current situation in each area, talked about communication with central and local authorities, formulated priority topics for each area they are currently focused on. Among the areas addressed were the fight against corruption, the education and research sector, the energy and renewables sector, the Transnistrian regulation, state security and others. Peter Michalko appreciated the team of the EU advisers as highly motivated and competent, and mentioned about the EU’s willingness to provide expertise on other dimensions as well.“This support is of great added value and can lead to increased EU support,” said the EU Ambassador. The Ambassador Thomas Mayr-Harting, the OSCE Special Representative of the Albanian Chairperson-in-Office for the Transnistrian settlement, made, at the end of January, his first visit to the Republic of Moldova in his new position. “My goal is to support the parties in their efforts to reach a comprehensive regulation, based on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova, within its internationally recognized borders, with a special status for Transnistria, which fully guarantees human rights, the political, economic and social rights of the population”, noted Thomas Mayr-Harting. According to him, the visit just two weeks after the official takeover of the OSCE Presidency by Albania denotes the attention Tirana is paying to resolving the conflict. In Chisinau, the official met with representatives of the senior leaders of the Moldovan state. He also visited Tiraspol, where he met with the Transnistrian leader, Vadim Krasnoselsky and the political representative Vitaly Ignatiev. Republic of Moldova, a 2020 between parallel realities Sorina Ștefârță The year 2020 is barely getting around, the Christmas decorations are still around the house, while others have their Christmas tree still decorated. However, the things are happening on such high speed and at such spring temperatures that the New Year’s Eve seems to have happened in another century and even in another geographical dimension. We remember that, among others, somewhere not so far away, a super-new American drone killed a rather old, but legendary Iranian general; that everyone was feverishly awaiting the start of a new world conflagration and that, again by human recklessness, two hundred innocent people lost their lives on a peaceful plane hit by those in possession of weapons. Photo symbol We also remember that Australia burned, that we were in solidarity with the kangaroos and koala bears, without having time to find out if it finally started to rain over the single country­continent. For, meanwhile, a new and deadly corona virus has begun to roam the planet, showing us how small we are especially in the age of globalization. Even since the final Monthly Bulletin, Nr. 1(167), JANUARY 2020 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