Authorities give no official answer to MAE’s protests

The European Action Movement (MAE) has been picketing the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration since September 11. They protest against Moldovan authorities’ refusal to open two Romanian consulates, one in Balti and another one in Cahul. MAE has addressed a letter to Foreign Minister Andrei Stratan seeking the immediate opening of the two consulates. So far it has received no official answer. No reaction came from other political organisations. The protest organisers received only a greeting message from MP Igor Clipii, one of the leaders of the Social-Liberal Party. According to the MAE leader Anatol Petrencu, the persons queuing at the Romanian Consulate cannot make common cause with the protesters for fear they could miss the line. Petrencu also said that given the absence of other consulates, the Moldovans have to queue up at the Romanian consulate in Chisinau for visas. Authorities’ refusal to open new consulates has a negative effect on the activity of the Chisinau Consulate, Petrencu added. The protests have been authorised by the Chisinau City Hall. They will last until September 14. MAE intends to hold a news conference later to inform the public opinion and the EU ambassadors about the tense situation regarding visas and about Chisinau authorities’ unwillingness to cooperate. The plans to open consulates in Balti and Cahul were made known at the start of this year, when Romanian introduced a visa regime for the Moldovan citizens after joining the EU. At a meeting in January, the Moldovan and Romanian Presidents Vladimir Voronin and Traian Basescu agreed to open the two consulates within seven-ten days. Later, Voronin said that the Romanian consulates in Balti and Cahul will not be opened in the near future.