Inter-Parliamentary Union - British Group - PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION FROM MOLDOVA 27 January to 1 February 2008


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Delegation Reports

PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION FROM
MOLDOVA :
27 JANUARY TO 1 FEBRUARY 2008

Visit of a Parliamentary Delegation from the Republic of Moldova
Sunday, 27 January to Friday 1 February 2008

The Delegation

Dr Marian Lupu - Leader of Delegation (Monday Only)
Speaker, Parliament of the Republic of Moldova

Communist Party of Moldova
Mrs Valentina Buliga (Deputy Leader of the Delegation)

Chair, Social Protection, Health and Family Committee
Democratic Party

Mr Vladimir Ciobanu
Chair, Public Administration, Environment and Territorial
Development Committee
Independent

Mr Stefan Secareanu
Chair, Human Rights Committee
Christian Democratic People’s Party

Mr Ion Plesca
Deputy Chair, Legal Issues, Appointments and Immunities Committee
Alliance Our Moldova

Mrs Mariana Zolotco
Adviser to Speaker

Mr Iurie Richicinschi (Monday only)
Assistant to Speaker

The delegation arrived on Sunday, 27 January and was met on arrival by Her Excellency Mrs Mariana Durlesteanu, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova, and Mrs Penelope Vagg, Deputy Secretary, British Group IPU. The official programme began on Monday with a tour of parliament led by Lord Dykes, Treasurer of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Moldova. The delegation then had a briefing on parliamentary procedures by Liam Laurence Smyth, Clerk of the Overseas Office, House of Commons. The discussion also covered party funding, House of Lords reform and the facilities and allowances available to MPs.
Speaker Lupu arrived in Parliament mid-morning, following a number of private meetings. The whole delegation met with officers from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Moldova and the All Party Parliamentary Group on EU Enlargement. During this meeting, the delegation highlighted their desire for the British Council to be more active in Moldova. Following the adoption of a new broadcasting code in Moldova, delegates also called for closer co-operation between the BBC and broadcasting companies in Moldova.
The Rt Hon Michael Martin MP, Speaker of the House of Commons, hosted a welcoming reception in Speaker’s House.This was also attended by other UK parliamentarians including Deputy Speakers, Sir Alan Haselhurst MP and Sylvia Heal MP. The latter visited Moldova in July 2007 on an official trip.
This was followed by lunch with members of the European Scrutiny Committee (House of Commons) and the EU Select Committee (House of Lords) which was hosted by Lord Grenfell. Speaker Lupu spoke of the need to renew the EU-Moldova Partnership and Co-operation Agreement which is due to expire in July this year. Moldova is aware that the EU needs time to adjust following the recent expansion. However it hopes that a new EU-Moldova Action Plan would provide a road map to help them work towards their long term goal of EU accession.
After lunch, the delegates met Mike Gapes MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. Delegates expressed their desire to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Transnistria and were keen for the 5 +2 talks to resume as soon as possible. They suggested that the EU might take on a more active role in this process.
The delegation then split into two groups with Speaker Lupu and his advisors meeting Anthony Smith, Director of European Political Affairs at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Speaker Lupu requested that the UK support an early start to negotiations to renew the EU-Moldova Partnership and Co-operation Agreement. The discussion also covered other issues, including the upcoming parliamentary elections in Moldova, changing public perceptions on Moldovan EU membership and public opinion on NATO membership.

The rest of the delegation met Jim Maund, DfID team leader for Central Asia, South Caucasus and Moldova. The Department for International Development are currently reviewing their work in Moldova for the next two to three years. Mr Maund explained that they are looking to complement work carried out by the EU by undertaking projects in areas such as social assistance and supporting the implementation of a national development strategy.
Later that afternoon, Speaker Lupu departed for Paris for another official visit, whilst the rest of the delegation remained in London and enjoyed a trip on the London Eye. In the evening, Dr Roger Berry MP, Chair of the British Group IPU, hosted dinner in the Club Room, 1 Parliament Street.
Tuesday began with the parliamentary discussions meeting hosted by the Rt Hon Bruce George MP, Vice-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Moldova. The topics covered included the trafficking of women and children, the protection of the environment and wildlife of the Nistru River region, the Moldovan wine industry and the impact of the recent Russian ban on wine imports from Moldova.The discussions also touched on the possible impact an independent Kosovo might have on the situation in Transnistria.
After this lively session, the delegation visited the offices of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD). Here, Alex Romaniuc, Head of Europe Programmes, outlined the work WFD undertakes in parliamentary strengthening. He suggested that WFD could consider co-ordinating projects in Moldova, once the parliamentary elections in Moldova have taken place in spring 2009.
The Rt Hon Bruce George MP kindly stepped in at the last minute to host lunch at Lancaster House which was attended by other British MPs and Peers. Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, FCO Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, was due to host this lunch however she was unable to attend due to her promotion to Government Whip.
In the afternoon, David Kemp, Media Consultant to the British Group IPU and former Chairman of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, briefed the delegation on the media in the UK and on the role of lobby journalists. Delegates were also interested to learn of the relationship between the media, political parties and the government.
In the evening, Her Excellency Mrs Mariana Durlesteanu, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova, hosted a reception in the IPU Room, House of Commons.
On Wednesday, the delegation had a tour of Westminster Abbey led by the Verger, James Prior. Following this, the delegation met Tim Jeffes, Director of the Broadcasting Unit of the Houses of Parliament. The delegation was particularly interested to learn about the rules of coverage and the rules of usage relating to television broadcasting of proceedings in both Chambers of Parliament. Delegates explained that television broadcasting is an ongoing topic of discussion within the Moldovan parliament.
After this, the delegation observed a lively session of Prime Minister’s Question Time from the Speaker’s Gallery. Delegates then went to lunch in the Attlee Room, House of Lords, which was hosted by Lord Dubs, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Moldova. Once again, Moldova-EU relations and the conflict in Transnistria were discussed at length.
The final meeting in Westminster was with members of the UK delegation to the Council of Europe (CoE) which was chaired by Lord Tomlinson. The delegation explained that they have approached the CoE Secretary General to request assistance in harmonising regional and national laws in Moldova with EU law. Delegates were also aware that further reform was needed in addressing human rights issues following a CoE report which highlighted problems in this area. As time was short, the UK delegation offered to meet the Moldovan delegation in the margins of the next Council of Europe meeting to follow up the discussion.
That afternoon, the delegation flew to Belfast. In the evening, delegates dined with Dr David Phinnemore, lecturer in European integration at Queen’s University, and Dr Cathy Gormley-Heenan, lecturer in public policy and researcher in conflict resolution at the University of Ulster. An interesting discussion took place on the future of the European Union and on confidence building measures that can be used during conflict resolution.
Thursday began with a briefing by Mary Madden, Deputy Director, Political Directorate of the Northern Ireland Office, on the political developments leading up to the Northern Ireland peace process. Linda McCausland, Office of the First and Deputy First Minister provided an overview of the powers of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Delegates found both these sessions useful and commented that they may be able to take on aspects of our devolved system.
The final briefing of the morning was with Raymond McCaffrey and Cahir Hughes who provided a detailed explanation of the work of the Northern Ireland Electoral Commission.
Lunch was hosted by The Speaker, William Hay MLA, which was also attended by a cross party selection of members of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

In the afternoon, the delegation visited the temporary offices of Belfast City Council. Here, they were greeted by the Lord Mayor, Jim Rodgers OBE, and other local councillors. The delegation was briefed on the powers of the local government and on the relationship between the local council, central government and the Northern Ireland Assembly. Delegates were also given an overview of economic developments in Belfast and were particularly interested to learn more about the successful tourism strategy currently being developed for Belfast.
There was just time before the last meeting to drive through North Belfast to see at first hand some of the peace walls and interface areas. The programme concluded with a visit to Antrim Road police station where Chief Superintendent, Gary White, briefed delegates on his experience of policing a divided society, particularly during sensitive periods such as the parades during marching season. Different styles of policing, police recruitment from Catholic and Protestant communities, and dealing with domestic violence were also discussed.
The delegation flew back to Heathrow late on Thursday evening and returned to Chisinau on Friday morning.