Foreign policy experts say Moldovan authorities’ decision to declare two Romanian diplomats as unwelcome is regrettable

Foreign policy experts consider the Moldovan authorities’ decision to declare two employees of the Romanian Embassy personae non gratae as regrettable and say that such a measure is more politically motivated that intended to protect the country’s interests. The decision deepens even more the distrust between the two states. The Republic of Moldova demonstrated once again that it is not capable of administering in a European spirit the relations with Romania, which is our only direct connection with the European Union, programme director of the Foreign Policy Association Victor Chirila told Info-Prim Neo. The cited source said that it is regrettable that the last channel of communication between the two counties, the diplomatic one, is not working anymore. “Regretfully, the discussions between Moldova and Romania reached a new level, which is even tenser - from contradictory statements to hostile actions,” Victor Chirila said. The expert does not rule out the possibility that the Moldovan authorities’ decision could hinder the signing of the Basic Treaty and of the Border Agreement as well as the efforts to facilitate Moldovan citizens’ travels to Romania. At the same time, Victor Chirila says that the statements made by the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by President Traian Basescu are encouraging. They made it clear that Romania will not take the same steps and will remain open for cooperation in the European spirit in continuation. Asked to comment on the expulsion procedure used by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova, the expert said that under the Vienna Convention, the Moldovan Foreign Ministry is not obliged to give explanations for its actions. It can declare any diplomat persona non grata without arguing. Romanian Ambassador Filip Teodorescu’s refusal to accept the Verbal Note is undoubtedly a sign of protest. The Vienna Convention stipulates that the Embassy, whose employee is declared persona non grata, must make sure that the given person leaves the country within a reasonable period of time, Victor Chirila said, specifying that the term of 24 hours given to the Romanian diplomats is not stipulated in the international document. However, Victor Chirila considers that the Moldovan Foreign Ministry should have acted in a more transparent manner. “I do not understand this secrecy. The Ministry should act more transparently and have a better communication with the public,” the cited source said, referring to the fact that the Ministry did not reveal the names of the two diplomats. According to the expert, the situation can be unblocked, but this depends on the willingness of both of the states. “It would be sensible for the Moldovan authorities to revise their decision, though I do not know relevant examples,” Victor Chirila said. Asked about the connection between the Moldovan authorities’ decision and President Vladimir Voronin’s recent visit to Brussels, where he complained about Romania to the European officials, Victor Chirila said that such actions clearly undermine Moldova’s pro-European message. On December 12, the Romanian Ambassador to Moldova Filip Teodorescu was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova and familiarized with a Verbal Note by which two diplomas of the diplomatic mission were declared personas non grata and asked to leave Moldova within 24 hours. The Moldovan officials made reference to article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.