I am deeply honoured to
address the General Assembly on behalf of the
Republic of Moldova. At the outset, I would like to
congratulate His Excellency Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treki
on his election to the presidency of the General
Assembly at its sixty-fourth session, to wish him
success and to assure his Bureau of the full support of
our delegation. I would also like to pay tribute to the
Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, for his high
competence and professionalism, and his tireless
efforts in leading the United Nations in these complex
times.
The distinguished speakers who have taken the
floor in this debate have elaborated extensively on the
most pressing issues that the international community
has faced over the past year. The current financial and
economic crisis, the food and energy crises, the first flu
pandemic of this century, and climate change have
been at the core of deliberations in the United Nations,
revealing the central role of the Organization in dealing
with these problems. A reformed, robust and effective
Organization has to deliver prompt reactions and
sustainable responses to the major challenges to peace,
security and development: disarmament and
non-proliferation, climate change, food and energy
security, and the spread of international terrorism.
We commend the efforts of the Secretary-General
in strengthening the United Nations and promoting the
core values enshrined in our founding Charter: the
fundamental principles of peace, justice and human
rights. The Republic of Moldova supports the ongoing
process of reform of the United Nations aimed at
creating a revitalized, representative, efficient and
more responsive Organization. Following significant
advances in the reform of its principal organs, we
recognize the steps being undertaken towards reform of
the Security Council, which undoubtedly necessitates a
firm political pledge on the part of the entire
membership.
In our opinion, the expansion of the Security
Council is a matter not only of equity but also of
efficiency. Any proposal for reform of the Council has
to reflect the legitimate aspirations of the regional
groups. Thus, in supporting the expansion of the
Council in both permanent and non-permanent
categories, we believe it indispensable to allocate an
additional non-permanent seat to the Eastern European
Group.
By virtue of the primary responsibility of the
Security Council laid down in the United Nations
Charter, its reform should also contain provisions for
consolidating United Nations operational capacities in
the field and revitalizing peacekeeping operations in
order to make them more effective and capable of
achieving their goals, including the development of
cooperation with regional organizations and Member
States for the resolution of conflicts in various areas of
the globe.
Building a safer world requires the greater
commitment of Member States in the area of
disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation. We
have recently witnessed a historic summit of the
Security Council, which voted to stop the spread of
nuclear arms and endorsed a broad framework of
action to reduce global nuclear dangers. The Republic
of Moldova welcomes the results of the most recent
Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, and looks
forward to continued positive trends in the work of the
Conference on Disarmament and the Preparatory
Committee for the Review Conference of the Parties to
the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
Weapons.
The current global economic and financial crisis,
one of the most serious since the creation of the United
Nations, has affected virtually all countries, including
the Republic of Moldova. In 2008, the previous
Communist Government in Chisinau denied the
existence of an economic and financial crisis; only
after its defeat in the elections of 29 July 2009 did its
representatives begin to raise the alarm.
The current administration, the Alliance for
European Integration, is assuming full responsibility
09-53165 24
for managing the economic crisis by attracting funds
from international financial organizations, securing
foreign investment, providing jobs, reviving the real
sector of the economy, ensuring the de-monopolization
of production sectors, and liberalizing exports and
imports. The liberal democratic Government relies on
the support of United Nations institutions and all
international structures in promoting the rule of law,
safeguarding fundamental human rights and freedoms,
and ensuring the functionality of democratic
institutions and the freedom of mass media.
The Republic of Moldova followed intently the
work of the high-level Conference on the World
Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on
Development, held this summer at the United Nations,
and welcomed the adoption of its Outcome Document
(resolution 63/303). The Conference highlighted once
again the role of the United Nations and gave a strong
impetus to the dialogue on identifying solutions for
overcoming the crisis and reforming the international
financial architecture.
At the same time, Moldova stands for
strengthening the Economic and Social Council’s
coordinating role in formulating global economic and
social policies and in further promoting active dialogue
with the international financial institutions and the
Governments of Member States in implementing the
Millennium Development Goals.
Nine years ago, in September 2000, the world’s
leaders committed our countries to a global partnership
in fighting poverty and achieving the Millennium
Development Goals. Today, in the context of the global
economic and financial crisis, considerable common
efforts on the part of developed and developing
countries alike are needed to achieve our commitments
by 2015. We welcome the decision to convene a high-
level meeting in 2010 dedicated to evaluating the
Millennium Summit decisions.
The General Assembly has proclaimed 2009 the
International Year of Reconciliation and the
International Year of Human Rights Learning, and
21 September as an International Day of Peace. It is in
this vein that we would like to reiterate the necessity
for an increased United Nations role and strengthened
cooperation with regional organizations, such as the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe,
in preventing and managing crisis and conflict
situations; guaranteeing respect for and the promotion
of fundamental human rights in separatist regions;
undertaking more efficient international actions to
stabilize the situation in countries affected by internal
conflict; and taking a complex approach under
international law to mediation and conflict resolution.
The intensification of international cooperation with a
view to solving conflicts and preventing the future
emergence or escalation of crisis situations that
threaten the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
States is of paramount importance for the Republic of
Moldova, which faces a secessionist movement in the
eastern regions of the country.
Respecting the principle of the peaceful
resolution of conflicts, we are confident that the
demilitarization and democratization of the
Transdniestrian region are indispensable to a viable
solution to the Transdniestrian problem. The new
Liberal Democratic Government’s coalition will
undertake sustainable efforts to identify a lasting
solution to the Transdniestrian problem in the current
five plus two format and will consistently urge an
increased United States and European Union (EU) role
in the resolution process. Concurrently, the Republic of
Moldova will revive its efforts towards the withdrawal
of foreign troops from the country, replacing the
present peacekeeping operation with a multinational
mission with an international mandate, and achieving
the integration of the country in all socio-economic
segments by encouraging the broad participation of the
non-governmental sector.
We will consistently act in accordance with the
law on the basic provisions of the Special Legal Status
of Localities from the Left Bank of the Dniester River,
adopted unanimously by Parliament on 22 July 2005.
Focused on the creation of conditions needed for
reconciliation and advancing the resolution process, we
put forward a series of initiatives in 2007 to strengthen
trust and security between the two banks of the
Dniester River, in particular by ensuring free
movement, instituting common participation in
developing and implementing projects to restore and
modernize infrastructure, and addressing various social
issues.
Unfortunately, the so-called Transdniestrian
authorities time and again have undermined these
initiatives by introducing illegal customs taxes,
impeding the elections process in the villages situated
on the left bank of the Dniester River, and confiscating
school premises, gravely violating the right of the
25 09-53165
Moldovan citizens to study in their native language.
The implementation of democratic reforms and the
normalization of the economic and social climate on
the right side of the Dniester will accelerate the
resolution of the Transdniestrian problem.
The Republic of Moldova appreciates the activity
of the EU Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and
Ukraine and its close cooperation with the relevant
border management bodies in both States. Its
contribution to border security and transparency has
created a more constructive atmosphere in which to
seek a resolution of the Transdniestrian problem. The
Republic of Moldova will further direct its efforts to
resuming negotiations in the existing format in view of
resolving the Transdniestrian problem. We count on the
consistent support and political will of all mediators
and observers in the resolution of this conflict.
Ongoing terrorist activities in various parts of the
world demonstrate that terrorism continuously
threatens the security, fundamental democratic values,
human rights and the letter of the law that are the basis
of the United Nations Charter. This scourge can be
defeated only by firm, common action by the
international community. In this context, we would like
to reaffirm that the Republic of Moldova fully
participates in the global fight against terrorism by
implementing measures at the national level and by
contributing to the international community’s efforts.
The new Government of Moldova will take concrete
action in combating international terrorism in
accordance with international instruments, pertinent
resolutions of the Security Council and relevant
national documents, such as our national strategy for
preventing and combating money-laundering and the
financing of terrorism.
In compliance with the United Nations Global
Counter-Terrorism Strategy (see resolution 60/288), the
Republic of Moldova will further contribute to future
United Nations efforts at consolidating international
legislation to combat terrorism, especially in view of
finalizing the negotiations of the comprehensive
convention on international terrorism and organizing a
high-level conference on terrorism under United
Nations auspices. We believe that special attention
needs to be paid to fighting those aspects of terrorism
that are nourished by separatist tendencies that affect
the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States.
Climate change poses a grave challenge to the
international community. Global warming and its
related effects, including natural disasters, have
become major threats to our peoples and to
international security. Its consequences greatly affect
vulnerable States, compromising economic growth and
the achievement of the Millennium Development
Goals. International cooperation is essential to dealing
with the obvious threat of climate change. We have to
raise alarm concerning the urgent need to strengthen
regional and global cooperation and to enhance the
assistance of donor States to developing countries and
to countries with economies in transition.
In recent years, the Republic of Moldova has
been confronted with considerable natural calamities,
from acute droughts to severe floods. Each year, the
intensity and frequency of these phenomena increase.
The harm caused to the population, to the agricultural
and food sectors, as well as to the overall national
economy is huge. In this respect, the implementation of
the United Nations Conventions addressing climate
change and desertification and the development of an
international strategy for disaster reduction are of
increasing urgency for countries severely affected by
droughts and desertification.
The Republic of Moldova recognizes the
importance of environmental protection to ensuring the
sustainable development of the country, as well as the
need for this issue to inform all national policies. In
this connection, we welcome the outcome of last
week’s Summit on Climate Change and strongly
support the continuation of negotiations. We hope that
we will conclude the forthcoming Copenhagen
Conference with a new far-reaching document. We
praise the Secretary-General’s efforts in mobilizing the
political will needed for the adoption of a new,
equitable and ambitious agreement.
The Republic of Moldova strongly supports the
activity of the High-Level Task Force on the Global
Food Security Crisis set up and led by the Secretary-
General. The efficient collaboration between the Food
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,
the Bretton Woods institutions and other relevant
United Nations structures, aimed at mobilizing new
funds in order to overcome the global food crisis, will
significantly contribute to the achievement of a
comprehensive action plan on food security. We
support the convening of the World Summit on Food
Security in Rome in November this year.
09-53165 26
The Republic of Moldova is firm in its path
towards European integration and committed to the
universal values of peace, democracy, respect for
human rights, the rule of law and economic freedom.
European integration constitutes the major strategic
goal of Moldova’s foreign and internal policies. We
welcome positive developments in our relations with
the European Union and their progress over the past
few years, particularly after the victory of the Alliance
for European Integration in the parliamentary elections
held on 29 July 2009.
The new Government will firmly pursue the goal
of rehabilitating the image of the Republic of Moldova
in the international arena and will negotiate in the near
future a new association agreement with the European
Union. The leaders of the Alliance for European
Integration are firmly committed to an efficient reform
of the socio-economic system in the Republic of
Moldova, without which the advancement of the
country towards progress and prosperity is hardly
possible. Those commitments represent eloquent proof
of the positive evolution of the political situation in the
Republic of Moldova after the recent parliamentary
elections. The democratic process has been resumed.
The new Parliament has accepted the
responsibility of complying with all the
recommendations formulated by the European
Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe with regard to the events of 7 April.
Those recommendations call for Moldova to improve
its electoral legislation and to initiate the process of
direct application of EU legislation. From this
perspective, we count on the support and opportunities
offered by the United Nations and its Member States to
promote Moldova’s political and social economic
objectives, its aspirations to European integration, the
resolution of the Transdniestrian problem and the
withdrawal of foreign troops.
In conclusion, I would like to confirm the
adherence of the Republic of Moldova to the ideals of
the United Nations and the will to further cooperate
through concrete action with a view to accomplishing
the commitments assumed. While respecting the
diversity of views, cultures and religions of everyone,
we must also be united in reaching for a common
goal — protecting humanity and preserving human
dignity as a foremost universal value.