No significant progress was made in the Republic of Moldova in investigating those to blame for the so-called grand corruption. The development partners of the Republic of Moldova are waiting for the denouement of the political negotiations, USAID Moldova Mission Director Karen Hilliard stated in an interview for RFE/RL’s Moldovan Service, which is quoted by IPN.
Karen Hilliard, who is completing her duties in Moldova this week, said 1/3 of the financial support provided by USAID was allocated for strengthening democracy, while 2/3 for underpinning economic growth. The rule of law and the justice sector reform are very important not only because they offer the people confidence in the democratic system and the own government, but also because these areas are directly related to the economic progress to which Moldova tends. “You need good governance, a functional justice system and authentic fight against corruption so as to support the business and the small entrepreneurs could develop their businesses freely, openly and without corruption. The large investors should have confidence that the provisions of the contracts they sign here, in the Republic of Moldova, will not change in time,” noted the USAID Mission chief.
The official said USAID in Moldova supported the implementation of the integrated case management program that made the distribution of court cases depending on interests and the corruption of particular judges more difficult. Also, alongside other development partners of the Republic of Moldova, it offered assistance, including financial one, to the players involved in the electoral process – from observers to electoral functionaries.
Asked about the ten years of Eastern Partnership and the leadership within the EaP that Moldova lost to Georgia and Ukraine, Karen Hilliard said Moldova has all chances to regain this position. For this to happen, the country should make every effort to do reforms in the sensitive areas. “The citizens should trust that political pluralism will survive in the Republic of Moldova and that the country is ready to undertake profound changes in these sensitive areas,” noted the official.
In another development, Karen Hilliard said the Republic of Moldova will continue to be important for the U.S. and the American citizens because it is a country situated at the boarder of Europe that aspires to one day join the European Union, aspires to the European values, but there are forces that want to hamper this process. The United States and other international donors realize the problems faced by Moldova and want to help the country overcome them so that it could continue on the chosen road.
“My message as regards the reforms and the European road is: keep it up! The Republic of Moldova made progress during these three years while I had the privilege to live here. I’m delighted by the program to develop tourism in the Republic of Moldova, which will transform this country into one of the most preferred places in Europe. I will return here in five years and I assure you that this place will be different then. So, I think the Moldovan citizens should have confidence in the evolution of the own country, in the European future of the Republic of Moldova,” stated Karen Hilliard.
Karen Hilliard has headed the Mission of the United States Agency for International Development in Moldova since the summer of 2016. Dr. Hilliard holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Illinois University as well as Master’s degrees in Public Administration and Latin American Studies, and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of New Mexico.
