Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia are the only CIS countries implementing reforms – EBRD

Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia are the only CIS countries that made progress in the field of market reforms, countries in which the political changes or modifications of the political vector constituted a stimulus to democracy and promotion of market reforms, reads a press communiqué released by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on the occasion of the launch of the Transition Report 2005.

Instead, the reform of the banking sector in Russia was counterbalanced by the increased state control over oil and gas enterprises which caused the only rating reduction operated by EBRD in 2005.

EBRD forecasts that the economic growth in Moldova will be of short term, but the prospects for a long-term sustainable economic growth depend on the implementation of the reforms stipulated in the Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper and in the Action Plan Moldova-EU. Moldova’s economy still depends on remittances. The amount of money sent by the Moldovan workers from abroad is expected to increase by 60 percent this year on last year, according to the forecasts of the National Bank of Moldova quoted by EBRD.

Despite significant progresses in restoring solvability, the long-term solution to Moldova’s external debt will depend on the implementation of prudent macroeconomic policies. No new state debts were accumulated in 2004 and there were signed a series of agreements of rescheduling and restructuring of the debts. Moldova’s external debt totaled 1.92 billion dollars or 74 percent of the value of the Gross Domestic Product. The public or state-guaranteed debt accounts for 884 million dollars of this sum. The reinvested profit augmented the direct foreign investments up to the record level of 148 million dollars in 2004.

Nevertheless, the Moldovan economy is still vulnerable to the external stocks, EBRD estimates.

As to government and enterprises’ restructuring, Moldova has improved its rating from “2 minus” to “2” as a result of reduced state intervention in economy and settlement of some conflicts betweens state and enterprises. Though the Moldovan Government did not prove devotion to pro-Western policies, there were registered certain positive changes.

The share of unprogressive credits in commercial banks’ credit portfolio decreased from 30 percent in 1999 to about 7 percent in 2004, while the credits released to the population almost doubled reaching 2 percent of the value of the Gross Domestic Product, the EBRD communiqué says.

According to a survey carried out by EBRD and World Bank among Moldovan businessmen, the business climate has improved compared with 2002 as regards the access to financing, the taxation, the criminality, and to a smaller extent the corruption. Yet, the businessmen meet great difficulties in fiscal administration, regulations and state intervention, as well as from an inefficient customs and judicial system.

Source: Reporter.md

8 November 2005

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today said Russia’s military presence in Moldova’s separatist province of Transdniester is essential to the region’s stability.

Lavrov, who was visiting Romania today, said the 1,500 Russian troops were helping keep the region peaceful.

Moldova has demanded the immediate withdrawal of all Russian troops from its territory, but Russia has refused, citing tensions in the region.

Lavrov, speaking after talks with his Romanian counterpart Mihai Razvan Ungureanu, said the Russian forces are “honestly” fulfilling their peacekeeping mandate.

The pro-Russian Transdniester broke away from Moldova in 1990. The two sides fought a short war in 1992. The province is not recognized internationally, but receives strong support from Russia.

Russia failed to honor an agreement with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to withdraw its troops and thousands of tons of weapons and ammunition—left over from the Soviet Army—by 2003.

(AP)

Source: Radio Free Europe

Washington DC (Moldova Foundation)

On November 2-5, 2005, the Moldova Foundation organized a series of briefings on human rights violations in the eastern region of the Republic of Moldova – Transnistria. To hear the voice of the oppressed population there, the Foundation invited to the US Mr. Ion Iovcev, Principal of the Romanian-language Lucian Blaga high school in Tiraspol (capital of Transnistria), and Mr. Ion Manole, Executive Director of Promo-Lex, a Chisinau-based human rights watchdog focused on defending farmers’ property rights in Transnistria.

Ambassador Steven Mann, the State Department’s negotiator for Eurasian conflicts and the US envoy at the Transnistrian conflict negotiations in the new “5+2” format, and other State Department and USAID officials were able to hear first hand information about how children in Transnistria are deprived of studying in their native language and how farmers were left without their only source of subsistence, their private land, which was confiscated by the separatist regime in Tiraspol. (The farmers were able to own the land as a result of a privatization program conducted by the Moldovan Government with the USAID funding).

“On behalf of 15 thousand children, their parents and teachers, I am asking you to understand us and to support these children to study in Romanian”, said Mr. Iovcev, who is Bulgarian by origin.

The two Moldovans provided information about the lack of democratic institutions, free media, and rights of assembly in Transnistria to the Helsinki Commission and Senator George Allen’s staff (R-VA). At a briefing at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty titled “Are human rights violations in Transnistria an obstacle to free and fair local elections?” representatives of Washington’s NGO and academia communities learned about the situation of the majority of population in Transnistria, who are unrepresented by the puppet Smirnov Soviet-style regime. The speakers emphasized that free local elections in Transnistria could only take place when Russia withdraws its troops from Moldova, there is free access to national and international mass media in the region, civil society develops, and political parties can carry out activities without restrictions.

Ion Manole and Ion Iovcev were also special guests at a roundtable discussion hosted by the International Republican Institute and the Moldova Foundation.

“Five thousand farmers that I represent – left without land – are looking at the champions of democracy, the US and the European Union, with hope in their struggle to defend their basic rights,” said Ion Manole. “Please help these people.”

Both speakers expressed their deep concern about the security of their fellow citizens – of all nationalities – living in Transnistria in fear of the separatist security forces and illegal paramilitary groups, who detain, kidnap and conduct political killings of those who are in favor of a unified Moldova.

Source: Moldova.org

Romania ready to supply electricity to Moldova.

The energy problem is vital for a state, while Romania could give Moldova a solution, Viorel Barloiu, head of the supreme defence council of Romania, who is on a visit to Moldova to attend the Joint Meeting of Secretaries of Supreme Security Councils and Heads of Information and Security Services of GUAM, in Chisinau, told journalists on Thursday.

Asked in connection with previous statements of Romanian President Traian Basescu who had promised that Romania would not accept the blackmail of Moldova in this issue, Barloiu reconfirmed the readiness of his country to supply electricity in case of necessity.

Moldovan Deputy Premier Andrei Stratan, foreign and European integration minister, said that “several energy projects are being developed.” “We think that Moldova could import and start exporting electricity,” Stratan underlined.

The Cuciurgan power plant based on the left bank of the Dniester river threatened in late October that it would stop supplying electricity starting this month, if Moldova refuses to increase the tariff by more than four cents per kilowatt/h or by about 30 percent. The Cuciurgan plant supplies electricity to the power distribution grids Chisinau, Centru and Sud of the Union Fenosa Group, the main electricity provider in Moldova. Although Union Fenosa in Moldova signed a 5-year contract with the Cuciurgan plant in 2001, the latter demanded new tariffs after its privatisation in 2004 and its takeover by a new administration this year.

Moldova depends 60 percent on current from the Cuciurgan plant.

Negotiations between the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) and the Cuciurgan power plant administration continue. It is not the first time when the Cuciurgan plant administration threatens to stop the electricity supply. Last year, it demanded a 40 percent rise of the electricity tariff and temporarily stopped the energy supply. Bucharest decided to supply 300 million KWh of electricity in December 2004, as response to a request of the Moldovan government.

Source: Moldova.org

Moldova can prove Tiraspol sold weapons to Iraq – Vladimir Voronin

Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin accuses Russia of lack of cooperation in Transdniestrian conflict settlement and calls Russia’s ammunition depot from the breakaway region “a political shield supporting the Transdniestrian regime”.

In an interview for Russian journalists Voronin said: “Russia’s control over this territory is obvious and we must call to account those who do not desire to solve this conflict”.

“About two billion dollars are being laundered every year in Transdniestria and no one wants to give up this source so easily,” Vladimir Voronin said. Being asked what Russia must do to help solve the conflict, the Moldovan President said that it must take the munitions from that territory. “We consider this depot a political shield that supports the Transdniestrian regime,” the President emphasized.

Vladimir Voronin added Moldova can prove Tiraspol sold weapons to Iraq. The document from Hussein’s archive that can confirm this is being studied by the Moldovan authorities now, he said.

Vladimir Voronin regrets Mr. Putin has not yet paid a visit to Moldova. “We presume the information reaches the person to which it is addressed in a distorted way, it being modified by those structures that have interest in the existence of this “Klondike” in Transdniestria,” the President told.

In an interview for Russian journalists last Thursday, the Moldovan Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev accused Tiraspol of illegal sale of Russian weapons which reached some hot spots including Chechnya. Russian officials denied these statements, qualifying them as “political”.

Source: reporter.md

Chisinau, October 8, 2005

Almost 2 thousand drivers of route minibuses have agreed to end their three-day strike for increasing the ticket fare. Drivers, but mostly minibus owners, were angered by the decision of the Chisinau City Council not to include in the agenda the increase of ticket fare from 2 to 3 Moldovan lei (equivalent of $0.16 and $0.24). After 3 days of idling, all the vehicles were back on Chisinau streets on Friday.

In major Moldovan cities, private route minibuses were introduced some 10 years ago to compensate for inefficient bus and trolleybus public transport.

A source from “drivers circles” told Infotag news agency that already on Wednesday, second day of the strike, many drivers were about to resume work, seeing how much suffering to citizens the strike brought. However, the “angry part” of drivers demanded them to demonstrate solidarity. Drivers of one route (No. 129) were about to resume regular circulation on Thursday morning, however a whole column of other minibuses from route No. 124 rushed to the 129 bus terminal and blockaded the road with their vehicles, accusing the colleagues of being “strikebreakers”.

On Thursday night, representatives of minibuses owners and drivers met with Chisinau acting Mayor Vasile Ursu and an agreement was reached to resume work. The sides also decided that the question of a higher fare rate shall not be tackled spontaneously any more, but in negotiations.

Most probably, increasing minibus fare would not be decided before elections of Chisinau mayor scheduled for November 27.

Source: Infotag.md

Moldova Plans for Second Eurovision Entry

Teleradio-Moldova is putting the final touches to the contest to pick a song for the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest.

“We are still discussing ideas,” explained Dorel Samoila, who was the assistant Head of Delegation for the broadcaster in Kiev this year. “TMD hopes to launch an open contest shortly inviting songwriters and composers to submit songs to be considered for 2006,” Samoila added. “Any national selection will take place in two phases. There will first be an internal part, where a jury will listen to everything we receive and then a public national final, where the viewers get to have final say over which song goes to Athens. We will use the free language rule for songs.”

TMD hopes to be able to announce the contest in the coming months, though no deadline is yet in place.

Moldova made their debut at the 2005 contest and thanks to the sixth place earned by Zdob si Zdub, they are now guaranteed a place in the final of the next contest.

Source: TMD

1 September 2005 (RFE/RL)

The self-styled president of Moldova’s separatist Transdniester region says the region will hold parliamentary elections in December.

Igor Smirnov made the announcement today before a military parade that was part of celebrations marking the 15th anniversary of Transdniester’s declaration of independence.

The region has no international recognition as a separate entity. But Smirnov said the election will be lawful, free, and fair and international observers will be invited to monitor them.

The region’s last parliamentary elections were in 2001.

The region’s hard-line Russian speakers created their own state over fears that Moldova’s Romanian-speaking majority would opt to join Romania. Transdniester fought a brief war with newly independent Moldova in 1992. Russia intervened, and Moscow’s troops remain.

Source: Reuters

11.30PM, Wed Aug 24 2005

Heavy rain and flooding has brought chaos to central and eastern Europe.

At least five people have been killed in Switzerland after flash floods and storms caused landslides and swept away cars. Schools have been closed and the authorities issued emergency warnings advising people to stay away from rivers and bridges.

In Austria, rescuers battled to save a woman who crashed her car in a flooded river.

The 72 year old was trapped for two hours before being pulled free from her submerged car.

The bad weather is being blamed on a cyclone which hit Moldova, destroying homes and property near the capital Chisinau and causing mudslides.

Source: ITN

Overflow Crowds for Franklin Graham Festival in Formerly Communist Moldova

More than 93,000 People Exercise their Freedom, Gathering for the Largest Evangelistic Event in the Country.

Wednesday 13th July 2005

It was only 15 years ago when some citizens of Moldova, one of the poorest countries in Europe, were imprisoned for practicing or expressing their Christian faith.

This past weekend was a hallmark of change as tens of thousands worshippers, formerly subjugated to strict communist rule, packed the National Stadium.

The Festival of Hope with Franklin Graham, July 8-10, drew 93,907 people to the country’s largest stadium, and by festival’s end, 6,920 people had responded to the invitation to put their faith in Jesus Christ. With overflow crowds each night, it was one of the largest religious events in the nation’s history.

“Years ago I drove to the border of this country, looked through the heavily guarded gate, and prayed that one day you would be free and I would have an opportunity to come back,” said Franklin Graham in a statement.

“Now I am here with tens of thousands of you, and this is a free nation, but I want you to have a spiritual freedom found in the hope and love of Jesus Christ.”

Graham, 52, is president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. He was invited to Moldova by pastors, leaders, and churches. More than 700 churches and 3,700 volunteers from multiple denominations participated in the Festival.

Graham’s messages were translated into Romanian and Russian—the two languages used interchangeably in Moldova. The Festival also featured music by local and international artists. Special guests included Americans John and Anne Barbour and award-winning guitarist Dennis Agajanian. In addition, a local choir of 2,000 people performed with musicians from Moldova, Belarus, Ukraine, Italy, and Romania.

In conjunction with the Festival, teams from Graham’s international Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, handed out thousands of gift-filled shoe boxes to local underprivileged children. This year, the organization’s Operation Christmas Child will deliver more than seven million shoe box gifts to needy children in 95 countries.

Graham just led Festivals in Australia, Paraguay, and Angola, speaking to some 340,000 people. Later this year, he will hold U.S. Festivals in Corpus Christi, Texas (Aug. 19-21); and Shreveport, La. (Nov. 11-13).

During the week, some 40 church leaders from across Eastern Europe met with Graham and extended invitations for him to return to the region to hold Festivals in their countries. Graham’s next event in Eastern Europe is scheduled for Kiev, Ukraine, in 2007.

Source: The Christian Post