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 AUGUST 2022 NR.8(198) Synthesis and Foreign Policy Debates NTheewnselewttselre-tutel resistedreevaelliozpaet ddebyMMădăădlăinlinNNeceșcușțuuț,ur,eeddaitcotor-rc-ocooordrdinoantaotror TOPICS OF THE EDITION: 1. Sergiu Litvinenco, Minister of Justice: “We need to get compromised people out of the justice system” 2. Angela Gramada, Director of the Experts for Security and Global Affairs(ESGA): “The PAS government has put several laws in motion, but the problem is that they have minimized the act of decision-making transparency” 3. Igor Munteanu, university professor and political analyst, IDIS„Viitorul”: “Few of the ministers who were confirmed for the current government were prepared for this‘baptism of fire’” News in Brief The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration(MAEIE) stated for Moscow, in the context of statements by the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, about the Russian speakers in Moldova, that the legislation of the Republic of Moldova guarantees fundamental human rights and freedoms. Minister Nicu Popescu summoned to the Foreign Office the ad interim chargé d’ affaires of the Russian Federation in Chisinau. The MAEIE specified that the rights of Russian, Ukrainian, Gagauz, Bulgarian and other ethnic minorities are respected in accordance with democratic principles. As to the Russian speakers, the statement says there have not been reported any violations of their rights to the competent institutions in our country. The clarifications by the Moldovan diplomacy came after Lavrov had declared that“Russia will do everything” so that the rights of Russians in the Republic of Moldova are not“affected”. The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, announced on August 31st that the EU foreign ministers agreed to suspend the agreement with Russia on the facilitation of the visa regime, because of the war in Ukraine, informs the Deutsche Welle.“We have witnessed a substantial increase in border crossings from Russia to neighbouring states. This becomes a security risk. We therefore agree today with the EU foreign ministers on the total suspension of the visa facilitation agreement between the EU and Russia,” wrote Josep Borrell on Twitter. Earlier, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the European Union must act now and “close the door” to Russian tourists to truly change Russia. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Nicu Popescu, declared on August 31st, in Prague, at the informal meeting of the EU foreign affairs ministers, that there is an urgent need not to admit the transformation of nuclear power plants into a war theatre and to ensure strict monitoring by the experts of the International Atomic Energy Agency.“We are a community of countries that share the same values ​o​ f democracy, freedom, the rule of law and adherence to an international order based on rules,” said the head of Moldovan diplomacy. The vice-premier pointed out to the recent actions by which the Republic of Moldova stands in solidarity with Ukraine, including the provision of solidarity routes for grain and fuel, the restoration of the Basarabeasca- Berezino railway section after two months of work, the facilitation of the transport of goods between Moldova and Ukraine. “Like everyone else in Europe, our country is preparing for a difficult winter amid the ongoing war and the uncertainty of energy supplies[...] We will contribute to regional stability while accelerating the pace of the country’s transformation to move closer to the EU and bring concrete benefits to the citizens”, declared the deputy prime minister. The first year of PAS government, between successes and managing multiple crises Meeting of the Moldovan Government, 1 September 2022 The first year of the government led by Prime Minister Natalia Gavriliță has seen numerous overlapping crises, but also unique external opportunities in the 31-year history of the Republic of Moldova. The current government, officially inaugurated on 6 August 2021, has managed to keep the Republic of Moldova in a state of stability with the generous help of the West. Moldova was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, the energy crisis from last fall caused by Russia, the refugee crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, but also by an economic crisis caused by the immediate consequences of the war and of the country’s low resilience to global economic disruptions. The government has dug deep into its pockets to maintain a relative stability in the country. Also, the international support was unprecedented, without which the situation in Moldova would have been much worse. The help was also due to the good external image of President Maia Sandu, which then spilled over to the Government and Parliament, dominated by the Action and Solidarity Party(PAS). Monthly newsletter, No.8(198), August 2022 111 Bucuresti St., Chisinau, MD-2012, Republic of Moldova, Tel.+373 855830 Website: fes-moldova.org. E-mail:fes@fes-moldova.org