Moldova tries to implement during less than two decades changes that such countries as the UK and Germany implemented during 400 years. Such a conclusion was reached by the team that assessed the Prosecutorial Reform Index for 2008, Info-Prim Neo reports. The American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) presented the findings of its Judicial Reform Index (JRI), the Prosecutorial Reform Index (PRI) and the Legal Profession Reform Index (LPRI) for the Republic of Moldova at a press conference at the Leogrand Hotel in Chisinau on December 22. These reports analyze the extent to which the legal system in Moldova conforms to international standards, assess the progress of reforms and identify the system’s primary strengths and problems. Findings show that while some progress was recorded in the past year within each area, judges, prosecutors and attorneys continue to face challenges related to independence, transparency, and perceptions of corruption which erode public confidence in the system. “A strong judiciary and legal system are critical to Moldova’s long-term success. The challenge is to ensure that these findings lead to further action that will result in a Moldovan society where independent and accountable judges and legal professionals work in a transparent, effective and fair system,” said U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Marcus Micheli, who delivered the opening address at the event. “Our hope is that these publications and the findings they contain will help guide Moldovan institutions, other donors and international organizations to set priorities relating to judicial and legal system reform in Moldova,” said Kathy Ladun, ABA ROLI interim director in Moldova and JRI author. “Certainly, these assessments are beneficial for continuing the legal reform in the Republic of Moldova. They were based both on a rigorous assessment of legislation and interviews with representatives from the legal profession. The assessments will constitute an important resource for the Government to better target reforms needed in these three areas in order to fulfill our goal of building a rule-of-law based state,” said Gheorghe Susarenco, Deputy Minister of Justice of Moldova. More than 70 people attended the conference, including leaders from the judicial branch, Ministry of Justice, and Parliament and representatives of the legal profession and Moldovan and international non-governmental organizations. The ABA ROLI is a public service project of the American Bar Association that supports law reform and provides technical assistance in more than 40 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Eurasia, Latin America and the Middle East/North Africa.