Government reiterates strong commitment to step up ties with Moldovans residing abroad
Prime Minister Vlad Filat yesterday gave a news conference on the creation of voting conditions outside Moldova for the 5 September constitutional referendum, the government's press service has said.
Filat reiterated the government's strong commitment to step up ties with Moldovan nationals residing temporarily abroad.
In this respect, Filat said that the government had taken a string of actions, including the creation of a framework of governmental policies. The government's action programme established as goal to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Moldovan citizens abroad.
Filat listed the legislative amendments aimed at cancelling the mandatory payment for the right to importing transport means and at opening new diplomatic and consular missions in the countries where a high number of Moldovans reside.
The prime minister said that the signing of a social protection agreement with Romania came to back the Moldovan citizens residing in this country.
"We are holding negotiations on similar agreement with Austria, Italy and Hungary. At the same time, we plan to hold consultations on the matter with EU states," the prime minister said.
Filat expressed conviction that the signing of the agreement on the facilitation of the visa regime with the USA, the agreement on small-distance cross-border movement with Romania and the opening of Romanian consulates in Cahul and Balti would help ease the movement of Moldovans.
The prime minister said that dialogue on the liberalization of the visa regime between Moldova and the EU was launched on 15 June due to the government's internal and external energetic actions.
"It is for the first time ever that the Moldovan citizens are given a clear prospect of benefiting from visa free travels to the EU," Filat said.
At the same time, given the high number of compatriots residing abroad, the government proposed that an agency for relations with Moldovans from abroad should be set up.
The prime minister regretted the fact that the parliament had not backed this initiative and specified that the government would act in line with the remit and rights seen in the constitution.
Filat said that the government was set to create conditions so that Moldovans residing abroad freely exercise their right to vote.
"Ensuring people's right to vote is an important element in the protection of the legitimate interests of our citizens abroad," Filat said.
The prime minister said that the government would propose that the Central Electoral Commission should open 45 polling stations abroad in addition to the 32 polling stations operating within diplomatic and consular missions and another two that were about to be opened in Madrid and Iasi. He noted that the government took a decision on the matter after consultations with host-countries and representatives of diasporas.
"Our efforts to organize the referendum and elections in as good conditions as possible are backed by Moldova's foreign partners who have already announced their financial support for this. Discussions on the matter are going to be completed soon after which we will receive the funds," Filat said.
Referring to the spending necessary to open 79 polling stations abroad, Filat said that 120,000 euros was needed, noting that the proceeds would be offered by development partners.
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