Romanian authorities artificially create problems to Moldovans transiting Romania – MFA of Moldova

The Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (MFAEI) denies the statement of the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Adrian Cioroianu that the authorities of Moldova did not present official information to the Romanian authorities about the cases related to the violation of visa regulations at the Consulate of Romania in Chisinau. According to a press-release of MFAEI, on June 26, 2007, the Moldovan Foreign Minister, Andrei Stratan, sent a letter to his counterpart Adrian Cioroianu by means of which the Romanian minister was informed about the violation by several employees from the Romanian Consulate in Chisinau of the Agreement between the Government of Moldova and Government of Romania on the mutual travels of the citizens. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has several times drawn the attention that it has information on the possible involvement of the Romanian diplomats in doubtful actions in the visa issuance process”, the press-release of MFAEI says, without presenting any details. The Press Service of MFAEI says that the Moldovan Ministry received a series of petitions this summer on “the inappropriate behaviour” of the Romanian Custom Police in the case of Moldovan citizens. MFAEI says these cases are an attempt to artificially create problems to the Moldovan citizens transiting the territory of Romania”, the press release says. “MFAEI draws the attention that Romania is not the only EU member which issues visas in Chisinau and calls on the Romanian authorities to create a functional, transparent and efficient visa issuance procedure for the citizens of Moldova”, the Moldovan authorities mention. Deputy-minister of Interiors of Moldova Valentin Zubic said on August 17 that the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova found an organised network which was illegally obtaining Romanian visas. One of the network’s participants was a high official of the Romanian Consulate in Chisinau. MFA did not divulge the name of the official. The same source says that two citizens of Moldova investigated in this case recognised their guilt and one of them was detained. As a retort, the Romanian authorities said they regret the fact that the Romanian MFA did not receive official information from the authorities of Moldova about the alleged violations.