Moldova–Romania relations remain frozen so far
Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Moldova and Romania are frozen so far; ambassadorial offices of both countries are vacant, while the visa requirements for Romanian citizens are effective in continuation. However, both parties formally declare interest to normalise the Moldovan-Romanian relations. But both Moldova and Romania condition the restoration of good relations. According to Moldovan Prime Minister Zinaida Grecianii, the visa requirements for Romanians will be cancelled should Romania sign the border recognition treaty and the small border traffic convention. Further, Moldova urged Romania to facilitate the visa issuance for Moldovan citizens by cancelling the requirements to hold a 500-Euro bank account. On the other hand, a Romanian public TV channel has quoted Romania’s president as saying that "the Moldova-Romania relations will normalise when the Republic of Moldova will have politicians to advantage the people."
Another reason to fuel the exchange of contradictory statements between Moldovan and Romanian authorities was the statement delivered by Romanian Foreign Minister Cristian Diaconescu at the June 15, 2009 meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC), which confirms that requested by Romania, the EU conditioned the opening of negotiations on a new agreement with Moldova with providing an equal visa-related treatment to all citizens of member states, stressing the importance of Moldova’s respect for good neighbourhood relations. In reply, the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration released a communication to accuse Romania of violating the good neighbourhood principle by meddling systematically into Moldova’s interior affairs and complicating the visa issuance for Moldovan citizens by requiring them to hold a 500-euro bank account.
Association for Participatory Democracy "ADEPT"
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