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Briefness first and foremost – October 18, 2018 IPN digest


https://www.ipn.md/en/briefness-first-and-foremost-october-18-2018-ipn-digest-7978_1044787.html

The visit by Turkey’s President to Chisinau makes the headlines in the local media. Under the signed agreements, the citizens of the two states could travel from one country to another based on the identity card. They could stay on the territory of the states for the same period as in the case of passports. Freight carriers could transit the two countries without a transport authorization and this will facilitate the delivery of goods on the territory of the two states. Under another signed treaty, the service members of the two states will be trained at the workplace, will pay working visits and will take part in joint exercises and other social and cultural events. The agreement of cooperation in the fields of youth and sport promotes cooperation between youth and sports organizations through different common projects, etc.

Turkey is interested in investing in the restoration of the Chisinau Circus. In a press release, the Government’s press service said Recep Tayyp Erdogan confirmed his readiness to make the approaches needed for the commercial exchanges between Moldova and Turkey and the Turkish investments in Moldova to grow. “This is a special country for us as it hosts Gagauzia, persons whom we consider compatriots,” stated the Turkish official.

The leader of the PDM Vlad Plahotniuc, in a working dinner with the President of Turkey Recep Tayyp Erdogan, said the current government was the only one that managed to have a very good strategic relationship with its three neighbors and partners from the Black Sea Region – Romania, Ukraine and Turkey... However, it results that President Igor Dodon forms part of the government only in relation to Turkey as both Romania and Ukraine for now do not form part of the official or unofficial destinations of the President of Moldova.

For the citizens of Chisinau, the visit means nothing more than police restrictions, which substitute the capacity of the police force to ensure the security of a foreign official by civilized methods, but adviser to the President of Moldova Maxim Lebedinski, in the talk show “Key issue” on NTV Moldova channel, said for the Republic of Moldova, the visit paid by the President of Turkey is important, given the development pace of the Turkish state in the recent past and the economic relations between the two states. Political commentator Vitalie Andrievski said the relations with Turkey are very important for the Republic of Moldova because this state is one of the most serious partners and a very serious potential investor.

But things are not so white and fluffy. Before Erdogan’s arrival in Chisinau, editorialist Nicolae Negru, in the program “Emphasis on today” on TVR Moldova channel”, said it is not clear why Turkey provided money for repairing the Presidential Building and what Moldova should pay for this. “If this extradition or deportation of the Turkish citizens hadn’t existed, we would have said it is an altruistic gesture and the Turks are generous. Here we can also add the Chisinau Arena that is built with the assistance of the Turks and the luxurious vacations for the President of the Republic of Moldova in Turkey and for the SIS director exactly in the period when these teachers were deported. These moments surely generate particular suspicions about this visit,” stated the editorialist.

Regrettably, the suspicions were confirmed. Referring to the first day of Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Moldova, the electronic variant of the Turkish newspaper Anadolu Post wrote that Turkey’s president said that in the joint fight (sic!-e.n.) against FETO, the Turkish people expect from their Moldovan friends to show the support needed without hesitation. In other words, invoking Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), President Erdogan disclosed the connection between the deportation of employees of the Lyceum “Orizont” and a series of favors done to Chisinau by the official Ankara, which was denied by the authorities, causing suspicions and dissatisfaction among the public.

Presumably, the vote for the Democratic Party’s initiative to enshrine the European course in the Constitution failed owing to the low level of credibility in the authorities. Speaker of Parliament Andrian Candu said the PDM is considering the possibility of organizing a referendum on the introduction of the European integration in the Constitution, while the 13 Liberal and Liberal-Democratic MPs betrayed their voters when they left the assembly hall before the bill to amend the Constitution and enshrine the European integration in it was put to the vote. The Socialist and Communist MPs also didn’t support the bill.

In such conditions, Socialist MP Vlad Batrîncea said this ideology – the European integration - brought the Moldovans to ruin during nine years, while Mihai Ghimpu considers the European integration is compromised by the current government... Practice beats grammar? Painful, very painful.

The truth is the investigation and punishment of those involved in the banking fraud and the recovery of the stolen funds are top priorities for the next government. These are a key element for any government that wants to be credible so that the people have confidence in the administration of the state, the president of the Party “Action and Solidarity” Maia Sandu stated in the talk show “Expertise hour”.

Details on IPN!