It is a great
honour and privilege to take part in the general debate
and to represent my country on this rostrum at a
significant juncture in Moldova’s modern history, the
recent celebration of the twentieth anniversary of its
independence and 20 years of its membership in the
United Nations, which we will mark in a few months.
These interrelated and complementary events
constitute an excellent opportunity to once again
express our genuine attachment to the founding
principles of the Organization, and our sincere
appreciation for the support and assistance the
international community has given my country during
this time.
On behalf of my delegation, I have the pleasure
to extend congratulations to His Excellency Mr. Nassir
Abdulaziz Al-Nasser on assuming his high and
responsible position, and to join previous speakers in
expressing our gratitude to His Excellency Mr. Joseph
Deiss for his excellent management and the
competence he displayed during his presidency of the
Assembly. I would also like to reiterate our sincere
congratulations to His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon on
his reappointment to a second term as Secretary-
General, to convey our deep appreciation for his
strenuous efforts and activity on behalf of the
international community and to wish him success in
continuing his noble mission.
The beginning of a new decade of the twenty-first
century has been marked by major changes, sincere
aspirations and high hopes in many parts of our planet.
We wholeheartedly welcome the Republic of South
Sudan’s declaration of independence and its entry into
the United Nations as the 193rd Member State. We
have witnessed the genuine desire of young people for
democratic reforms and human rights, fundamental
freedoms and social justice. Peoples in the
Mediterranean region and in North Africa and the
Middle East have set out firmly along the road of
democracy, launching the Arab Spring. In that regard,
we recall the events that changed Moldova and
launched our country on a new, more democratic track
in 2009.
In this time of change and historical upheaval, we
note the transition of Libya to a new phase in its
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political development, as stated expressively in the
Assembly last week by the Chairman of the National
Transitional Council Executive Office of Libya (see
), whom the Republic of Moldova, like
many other delegations, supported as Libya’s
representative in the General Assembly. The role of the
United Nations in supporting Libya’s transition to
democracy in the wake of the downfall of the former
regime has been incremental. We express our
satisfaction at the Security Council’s approval of the
creation of a mission to assist the transitional
authorities and the Libyan people during the critical
post-conflict phase.
We have also learned that natural calamities hit
nations indiscriminately. In order to overcome the
consequences of ecological disasters, such as the great
east Japan earthquake, the Fukushima nuclear accident,
the great flooding in Pakistan and the severe drought
and hunger in the Horn of Africa, requires the common
efforts of both developed and developing States. The
international community has the great task of
strengthening its humanitarian and disaster response
capabilities.
Faced by different challenges, it is commendable
to have a joint platform of concerted actions, managed
by the United Nations. Poverty, conflicts, climate
change, economic and financial issues, migration,
pandemics, terrorism, international crime and other
crises affecting humankind cannot be countered
individually, but only by means of global strategies.
The United Nations is a unique tool in addressing and
overcoming them.
The United Nations should consolidate its central
role in world affairs, and, consequently, enhance its
multilateral and universal potential by making the
Organization stronger and more representative,
efficient and able to promptly react to major
challenges. A reformed Organization must
pragmatically adapt to new realities and strengthen its
influence, in strict accordance with the United Nations
Charter. The most appropriate methods of
communication, consultation and cooperation during
the reform process should be developed, in close
interaction with other actors, such as the private sector,
civil society and academics, who play a more visible
role in shaping the modern world.
The greatest incentive for economic growth and
security is a balanced and equitable global trade
system, for which the international community has
been struggling in complex negotiations since the Doha
Round in 2001. While talks on the issue continue,
discrepancies and ruptures in our economies make it
difficult to stand against the waves of the economic
and financial crises. It is hardly possible that countries,
especially developing ones, remain immune to the
globalized economic downturn. While we are required
to implement drastic austerity measures, access to
markets is vital for our economies. That is one of my
country’s priorities. Our Government is working hard
towards the extension and diversification of market
outlets in cooperation with its partners, primarily in
Europe. We rely on openness, a constructive approach
and fair play in market relations as our best allies for
win-win solutions in global trade.
The Republic of Moldova stands committed to its
human rights agenda. Last year, my country ratified the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal
Court, in a sustained effort to contribute to the
development and implementation of international
standards in the fields of human rights and the rule of
law.
As a member of the Human Rights Council,
Moldova has taken an active part in the Council’s
deliberations and activities, with the aim of building up
a strong and legitimate human rights body. This year,
Member States underwent the complex process of the
Council’s review. Although not all the concerns of
Member States were accommodated for a far-reaching
and more ambitious outcome of the review, we should
remain committed to fulfilling the balanced and
objective agenda of the Council, while its membership
is expected to comply with resolution 60/251 to uphold
the highest standards in the field of human rights and
to fully cooperate with the Council’s mechanisms.
The Republic of Moldova remains committed to
that principle. In approximately two weeks, my country
will engage in an intensive review by the United
Nations Human Rights Council under the universal
periodic review mechanism, involving not only the
Government but also civil society and other national
stakeholders. We intend to proceed in that exercise
with genuine openness, objectivity and a constructive
approach.
The commemoration of the tenth anniversary of
the terrorist attacks in New York on 11 September 2001
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reminded us once again of the great losses, the needed
vigilance and the imperative to multiply our efforts in
combating the terrible scourge of terrorism.
As a State party to all the universal legal
instruments on the prevention of terrorist acts, the
Republic of Moldova condemns terrorism and
extremism in all their aspects, and welcomes the
achievements of the United Nations Global Counter-
Terrorism Strategy. We advocate the earliest conclusion
of the negotiations of the comprehensive convention on
international terrorism, the convening of a United
Nations conference and the strengthening of all efforts
on combating terrorism at the national, regional and
global levels. To contribute to that end, the Republic of
Moldova is currently hosting a regional event on
preventing and countering the financing of terrorism in
South-East European States.
Let me now refer to one of the most important
security issues faced by the Republic of Moldova —
the Transnistrian conflict. From the outset, I would like
to reconfirm that the Government of the Republic of
Moldova remains fully committed to the goal of
achieving a political, comprehensive and viable
solution to the issue, which should lead to the
reintegration of my country.
During the past five years, in referring to the
Transnistrian issue, we have always made the same
appeal. Moldova calls for the unconditional resumption
of the negotiations on the political settlement of the
conflict in the “5+2” format. I am happy to announce
that, exactly five days ago, at the 5+2 consultations
round in Moscow, that decision was finally taken. We
express our gratitude to the Russian Federation, the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe,
Ukraine, the European Union and the United States —
the members of the 5+2 negotiations format — for
their efforts in reaching that result. However, the
resumption of the official negotiations was never seen
as a goal in itself. We are fully aware that the most
difficult part of resolving the conflict is still ahead.
On this occasion, I would like to reiterate some
basic elements of the Moldovan approach towards the
problem. A viable and comprehensive political solution
can be based only on respect for the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova, within
its internationally recognized borders. The central
question on the agenda of the five plus two
negotiations should be the special status of the
Transnistrian region within Moldova. On the one hand,
that special status should ensure full respect of the
needs, rights and freedoms of the local population. On
the other hand, it should provide for the functional
integration of the region with the rest of the country.
Over the past year, our efforts have been focused
on mobilizing internal resources and international
support to advance the conflict resolution process. In
that regard, we continue to promote confidence-
building measures between both banks of the Nistru
River. Our current list of priorities includes the
restoration of fully-fledged rail communications
throughout the Transnistrian region, in accordance with
international standards. Another important objective is
the restoration of landline phone connections to allow
people from the Transnistrian region to communicate
freely with their relatives and friends in the rest of
Moldova.
The main beneficiaries of such measures are,
obviously, the population and the business community.
The solutions are on the table. Our message for the
leadership in Tiraspol is clear — abandon the policy of
self-isolation and let us think together about practical
and transparent solutions that would make people’s
lives much easier.
Let me also refer to some unresolved issues that
need further attention. We are concerned about the
situation of Latin-script schools in the Transnistrian
region, which remain under constant pressure from
local authorities. Children should never become
hostages of political disagreements. In the same
context, we emphasize the need to improve the human
rights situation in the region, in particular to resolve
the case of Mr. Ilie Cazac, who has been abusively
imprisoned in Tiraspol, in order to secure his
immediate and unconditional release.
We need to reflect on the future of the existing
peacekeeping arrangements in Moldova. I would like
to underline the fact that Moldova has been at peace
for the past 19 years. Therefore, what we really need is
a peace consolidation, not peacekeeping, exercise. That
requires the transformation of the existing, old-
fashioned military mechanism into a multinational
civilian mission operating under a relevant
international mandate and focusing on confidence-
building activities.
We should not avoid discussions about the
presence of foreign military forces that are stationed on
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Moldovan soil without the consent of the host country,
in breach of the Moldovan Constitution and relevant
international commitments. We are confident that an
early completion of the withdrawal of foreign
munitions stocks and the armed forces guarding them
from the territory of the Republic of Moldova will
positively influence the process of settling the
Transnistrian problem.
As in the case of other conflicts, the Transnistrian
settlement process cannot advance to its final goal
without wide international support, particularly from
the mediators and observers. It is our strong belief that
genuine mediation based on shared objectives, joint
efforts and good faith is an essential factor in that
regard.
We fully concur with the President’s focus on the
peaceful settlement of disputes, and his assessment that
peaceful settlements, including those brokered through
mediation efforts, provide the most cost-effective and
long-lasting solutions. We will actively engage in
further debate on the role of mediation in the
settlement of disputes, with a view to developing and
consolidating the role of the General Assembly as the
world’s leading peacemaker.
Moldova’s advancement on the path to European
integration, the primary goal of which is the overall
modernization of the country, remains the absolute
priority of the domestic and external policies of the
Republic of Moldova. The Government has initiated a
series of deep reforms to ensure the rule of law, the
independence of justice and a functional market
economy where businesses and foreign investments can
find a proper place to grow. Those have proven to be
complex, lengthy and sometimes painful processes, but
they are absolutely indispensable for further
development.
Moldova’s proactive attitude and determination in
promoting and implementing reforms has ensured a
more intense and expanded political dialogue between
the European Union (EU) and Moldova. We have made
significant progress in negotiating an association
agreement with the European Union by opening a
structured dialogue on human rights and fully engaging
in efforts to meet the conditions established during the
visa liberalization dialogue. We are ready to launch
negotiations on creating a broad and comprehensive
free trade area with the European Union.
The European perspective continues to be the
EU’s most effective tool in promoting dynamic and
consistent reforms in neighbouring countries. We are
confident that the promotion of democratic values,
prosperity, stability and security in Europe will lay the
foundation for the future EU agenda. That projection of
soft power will be possible only if it is accompanied by
an extension of EU borders. In that context, we hope
that the Warsaw Eastern Partnership Summit will make
an important contribution to strengthening EU relations
with partner countries, developing its messages and
leaving the door open for those Eastern European
neighbours that are able to meet the accession criteria
in the foreseeable future.
Over the past 20 years, my country has achieved
significant positive developments in the field of
internal affairs. Still, much remains to be done in the
process of carrying out democratic and socio-economic
reforms, the main objective of which is to consolidate
the Republic of Moldova as a sovereign, independent
and reintegrated European State.
In that regard, we further count on the support of
the United Nations and its Member states in advancing
the political and economic development of my country,
resolving the Transnistrian conflict, speeding up the
withdrawal of foreign military forces and
implementing our development priorities.
In conclusion, I would like to reconfirm the
commitment of the Republic of Moldova to the ideals
and goals of the United Nations, and its readiness to
further cooperate broadly by engaging in concrete
actions to bring those ideas and aspirations to life.