The Institute for Development and Social Initiative “Viitorul” carried out a study titled “The Supreme Security Council's Role in the New Political Context”, whereby it is proposed transforming the present Council into a consultative and strategic planning body called the National Council for Strategies and Security, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to the author of the study, independent expert on security imatters Vlad Lupan, the present Supreme Security Council lacks strategic thinking and modern expertise in formulating and defending the national interests. “The Council's inaction and inconsistency led to the adoption of programs and strategies that lack content and make the political system more vulnerable,” the expert said. Vlad Lupan said the authoritarian regime of the PCRM and monopolization of power during the last eight years had serious repercussions for Moldova's security system, including the Council that was directly subordinate to the former head of state Vladimir Voronin. Independent expert George Aparece said a powerful regime means in fact a fragile state that is not able to promptly deal with the risks. “The April 7 events revealed the incapacity of Moldova's security system and a chaos in decision making,” he said. IDIS “Viitorul” director Igor Munteanu mentioned three problems existing in the current security system. The first is the old practice of naming persons to posts according to their zeal not competence. The second is the incoherence of the institution, avoidance of taking decisions and approving strategies. The third is the lack of consistence, when many issues are made secret. The study suggests that the National Council for Strategies and Security must deal mainly with the Transnistrian conflict, the energy crises, tensions connected with the federalization of the country, social and other tensions. Vlad Lupan considers that the new Council must have the power to make decisions and carry out control in national security matters, be depoliticized and have sufficient resources to coordinate the activities aimed at ensuring national security. The experts say this reform should be a high priority in 2010 as the new Council could help overcome the economic crisis and prevent new ones.