Moldavië hoopt op economische steun vanuit EU en IMF (en)
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Moldova's newly elected pro-Western government hopes to secure an aid package from the IMF and the EU in the coming weeks in order to bring the country back on the floating line, Prime Minister Vlad Filat told MEPs in Brussels on Tuesday (29 September).
Only a few days in office, the 40-year old premier chose Brussels as his first destination abroad and even named his four-party coalition the "Alliance for EU integration" as a sign of its commitment to EU-inspired reforms.
"Up until now, EU-Moldovan relations were based on mere declarations, but my government is committed to real reforms and the implementation of the promises made," Mr Filat said during a hearing in the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee.
His election was broadly acclaimed by MEPs from across the political spectrum as a victory against a repressive and backward regime, which has kept the country down for the past eight years. The democratic coalition won the majority in the parliament after a re-run of the fraudulent April elections, in which the Communist Party claimed victory.
Initial peaceful protests turned violent and saw "instigators" set the parliament and president's office on fire, Mr Filat said. A brutal crackdown, with random arrests and police beatings took place, to the outrage of the international community.
The Communist government vowed to investigate the matter, but failed to attract opposition members and international experts on an inquiry team. The new prime minister pledged to set up this commission and "bring the perpetrators to justice."
Empty coffers
Economic woes, due to both mismanagement and the current financial crisis have left state coffers empty, with the new government unable to pay for even basic commitments such as pensions. The economy is expected to contract by ten percent this year, while the budget deficit has hit a record of ten percent of the GDP.
A mission from the International Monetary Fund is expected in Chisinau on 14 October and the government is hoping to conclude an agreement as soon as possible, Mr Filat told journalists in a press briefing on Tuesday.
Earlier this month, press reports had mentioned sums of €200-350 million, which could become available from the IMF by November.
The European Commission had also signalled "availability" in this regard, and it was now up to his team to "work on it," the prime minister said.
A sense of urgency to get the country's cash flow back on track is largely due to the coming winter and potential cuts in gas supply, as Moldova is almost completely dependent on Russia's state energy company Gazprom.
The Kremlin had openly backed Communist leader Vladimir Voronin and even offered a €100 million aid package to bolster his campaign. China had also floated some €700 million in infrastructure aid to the previous government, but no agreement had actually been signed.
Asked about the likelihood of receiving Russian aid, Mr Filat said his country was "still interested", but would have to discuss conditions with the Russian leadership.
"We would prefer to have funding from Europe. We are very open to EU investments in our country," Mr Filat stressed.
The US has already promised an aid package of €180 million to Moldova, which is by all standards one of the poorest countries in Europe, with almost 30 percent of its 3.8 million population living below the poverty line.
Cool relations with Russia
In a markedly bold shift from the previous Moscow-friendly regime, Mr Filat said his country could consider Nato rapprochement, despite a neutrality clause anchored in the Moldovan constitution.
He said the article could be changed through a referendum, but acknowledged that it would be a long process to win the hearts and minds of ordinary Moldovans who still feel very hostile towards the transatlantic military alliance due to what he called Russian media propaganda.
Asked about Moldova's relations with Russia, he said they would be "professional, pragmatic and cool-headed."
"But let me reassure you that we'll maintain dignity in our relations with Russia," he told MEPs.
Moscow still keeps a contingent of its army as 'peacekeepers' in the separatist territory of Transnistria, over which Mr Filat acknowledged that Chisinau exerted no control whatsoever in terms of arms trafficking and other illegal activities.
"It is no secret that the government of Transnistria receives funding from Moscow," he said.
Mr Filat hopes to expand the mandate of the existing EU border assistance mission in Moldova and maybe even replace the Russian, Transnistrian and Moldovan peacekeepers with an international, EU-led civilian mission.
Discussions with EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrerro-Waldner i and justice commissioner Jacques Barrot i on Wednesday (30 September) are likely to touch upon this issue as well.