The leader of the Communists Party faction in the Parliament, Eugenia Ostapciuc asserts that the political year 2006 can be characterised via the realisation of the EU-Moldova Action Plan. 20 laws have been adopted in this sense, Ostapciuc told Info-Prim Neo. [PCRM guided by electoral programme] According to the communist MP, although much effort has been made in this direction, there still are some unrealised plans as the adoption of the Education Code and the amendments to the Law on Public Prosecutor Office and others. As a comment for the activity of the party she represents (PCRM), Ostapciuc affirms that it had made the most in order to implement its programme. “We cannot say that we follow the programme strictly. However, we solved many problems both in the economic and the social spheres. Maybe more could be done, if we wouldn’t have had the problems related to the prohibition of agricultural and wine products import to Russia”. Still, several important measures had been implemented, so that the exports can be resumed, with higher quality products and a higher price, the MP says. Concerning the Parliament’s activity, Ostapciuc asserts that although this session was a short one it was a significant one because all the budgets have been adopted. “We are glad that, in spite of the criticism, year by year, the budget increases, a fact creating conditions for solving some social problems. When PCRM came to power in February 2001, the country was totally ruined. During the following years, not even the level of the 90’s could be reached, Ostapciuc asserts In the political sphere, the cited source emphasized upon the importance of the political consensus reached on April 4, 2005 which continued in this year. She thinks that, “regardless of some aspects, that not al the laws are voted in common, there still is stability in the Parliament”. In the context she suggested that the MPs representing AMN are more constructive because “what they did in the last session, by blocking the central rostrum of the Parliament, does not improve their image. [“Voronin didn’t cheat. Those who voted him did.”] In the opinion of Oleg Serebrian, the chairman of the Social Liberal Party, 2006 have been a difficult year which showed clearly that Vladimir Voronin and PCRM have no intention to implement the reforms they promised to the Parliament, the nation and the international community in April 2005. “If in the previous year, the Government fulfilled at least formally some of the conditions brought by PPCD, PSL and PDM on April 4, 2005, then in 2006 it did not feel any obligation to do this. Moreover, if in 2005 some of the political leaders from Chisinau were desperately seeking to convince the public that Voronin decided to respect all the conditions accepted before his re-election, and even more – that most of these conditions have been fulfilled, then in 2006 it seemed that even they resigned themselves, accepting calmly the situation we face. It appears that it was not Voronin who cheated by accepting those 10 conditions proposed by PPCD and PSL MPs as well as those 16 requirements pronounced by PDM. The cheating rather came from the part of the leaders of some of these parties, who seem to have voted because of other reasons than those formally declared”, PSL leader asserts. [“A fake democracy”] The chairman of the Social Democrat Party, Eduard Musuc, also says that during this year a steady degradation of democracy has been registered – both in the political and social-economic spheres. “Hidden under the pro-European and pro-western declarations, and a fake democracy, an authoritarian regime attempting to dominate all the spheres have been installed in Moldova”. Musuc emphasises that we’ll have elections in the forthcoming year, and considers that the power will use any measure in order to keep its positions, but it will not succeed, the politician asserts. A significant reconfiguration of the political spectre is expected. The “consensus” government coalition is to lose ground and opposition is to benefit from it. Also, although only partially, a promotion of the new generation of politicians is to be produced. New people are to come to power, bringing new ideas and capacities to produce cardinal changes in the political life, Eduard Musuc asserts. [“Extremely important electoral year is approaching”] The political analyst, Igor Botan, asserts that in general, the political year 2006 was a difficult but also an encouraging one for Moldova. “The year began with the gas crisis. Than the wine embargo followed, producing nerve crises to businessmen. The National Bank had to intervene in order to calm the spirits. Fuel, especially gases grew dearer, pulling up the inflation curve. As consequence, Moldova regulated its relations with international financing bodies and received an unexpectedly great support from the council of donors formed by EU, IMF and WB”, the analyst says. In the external field, mostly thanks to Romania, Moldova became a plenipotentiary member of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) and Central European Free Trade Agreement, hoping to sign an association agreement with EU after the expiration of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and the implementation of the EU-Moldova Action Plan. Although the things are still very hazy, the objective is established correctly, Botan mentiones. At the same time, according to the expert the Transnistrian conflict remained frozen, although the efforts for its internationalization reached the limit. The importance of GUAM was proved by the successful efforts to include the issue of frozen conflicts on the agenda of the UN General Assembly. OSCE Ministerial Council confirmed Moldova’s position regarding the conditions of solving the conflict. Russia had clearly taken the part of the separatist regime, but lost all the possibilities to support it. Provoking the organisation of the referendum of Transnistria’s adherence to Russia, it cannot even recognize the independence of the region. Therefore, the conflict will stay frozen. Ukraine will remain the main influence lever over Transnistria. The necessity of advancing in its relations with the EU will motivate Kiev to coordinate its policy on Transnistria with the Union. And EU stands for the territorial integrity of Moldova within the frameworks of the conflict resolution process, Botan mentions. Concerning 2007, the analyst specifies that it is going to be an electoral year, in which general local elections are to be held, extremely important for the consolidation of political forces before the parliamentary elections in 2009. On the other hand, the elections for the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia will be held. They will display the balance of political forces in the region and will determine the relations between Comrat and Chisinau, the analyst Igor Botan asserts, cited by Info-Prim Neo.