Speeches
Moldova Marches toward the Future: Prospects and Prognoses
Ambassador Michael D. Kirby’s Speech at Moldova State University
March 23, 2007
Mr. Rector,
Professors, Students, Honored Guests:
This week it will be seven months since I assumed my duties here in Moldova. First, I want to tell you that I am thrilled to be here. During my brief tenure here, I have had a chance to meet with the Moldovan leadership, civil society representatives, the media, intellectuals, and Moldovans in all walks of life. I have also had time to look at the path Moldova has followed during the past 15 plus years and ponder about its prospects for the future.
Moldova has come a long way since its independence in 1991 when, as one of the pieces of the collapsed Soviet Union, it groped for a path toward what it hoped would be a bright and prosperous future for its people. This search led Moldova to the choice most likely to yield sustainable prosperity: political and economic reforms to bring Moldova closer to modern, global standards. After sporadic reform efforts, Moldovan leaders embarked on a reform program that picked up momentum and started making a difference. From what I have observed, Moldovans and your government – as well as most opposition parties – have chosen a path towards Europe. The long-term goal appears to be European Union membership. I applaud the choice.
I stand in front of you today and say that the United States deeply believes that the kind of society that we observe in EU member-countries is the type that would best serve the interests of Moldova and Moldovans – on both sides of the Nistru river.
Some will say that the EU has turned a cold shoulder to Moldova. I don't agree. The EU has made clear that the path to the EU is long and difficult – that is not the same as impossible.
While I am an American, I have much experience in Europe. Indeed, I lived for a total of 18 years in six countries which are now EU members – France, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Poland.In 1967, I moved to France. I recall General deGaulle saying then that the United Kingdom would never join the EEC (as the EU was then called). The UK joined in 1971. Never doesn't mean never. Moldova needs to focus on making itself the kind of country that the EU wants in the club.
Those changes are many and manifold. They are necessary – I believe – not just so that Moldova can join the EU. They are necessary so that Moldova becomes a country that Moldovans can justly take pride in – a country with a dynamic, expanding economy with good jobs for all of its citizens – a country with a vibrant, free and unfettered media – a country with a vigorous political life in which a broad range of ideas are expressed and where elections are up to European standards
– a country with a good infrastructure of roads, utilities, drinking water and health care facilities.
The Road Ahead
As you know, Moldova took a major step toward securing a more prosperous, common European future when it signed the EU-Moldova Action Plan in 2005. This plan has proven critical, as it serves as the "road map" for key, cross-cutting reforms. Some have asked, "what will come after?" My advice to you is rather than focus on what lies at the end of the path, focus on the journey: developing EU norms is important to Moldova. As Moldova not only passes the needed legislation and just as importantly, as it begins to implement those reforms it will attract foreign investment, which will raise health and transportation and environmental standards, and which will make Moldova a modern, 21st century country. These reforms are good for Moldova, no matter what the eventual outcome.
Look at Norway and Switzerland. They have chosen not to become EU members when offered the chance to do so and yet are among the most developed countries in the world.
Moldova has in its own grasp the fruits of reform and development. The EU Action Plan points the way. The Plan's objectives will not be easy to reach. But this can not be a game of smoke and mirrors. Observers not only will listen to what you say; we will watch what you do. Progress cannot be faked. The reform will be painful, but time will not make it any easier. Other countries in your neighborhood are making progress and you are not in a position to wait. While putting off real change can be deceptively attractive, unlike Moldovan wine, implementing reform does not get better or easier with time. The experience of others has shown that tackling these difficult, but necessary reforms head-on is the only way to go, and Moldova should not delay.
I agree that trying to link Moldova’s integration efforts with those of other Southeastern European countries makes sense. But, in the end, it is relatively unimportant.
However, to truly make into "the club," it will not be enough for Moldova to do just enough as the least qualified potential candidate – there is a lot of competition, and Moldova will need to shine. To join the club, you must make an unwavering commitment to being every bit as qualified as the most qualified of the other potential candidates. This will not be easy. Moldova has gone through difficult times, and the future you seek will require still more sacrifices. But I am absolutely convinced that if political and economic leaders as well as civil society pull together, you can succeed.
In 2005 Moldova also rebuilt neglected bridges of cooperation with international financial institutions, renewing agreement with the International Monetary Fund. Under enormous economic pressure by those who have, unfortunately, sought to undermine rather than support Moldova's European integration, you have also made some efforts to modernize the agricultural sector and to diversify your markets. More needs to be done, however, to meet European quality and safety standards. As we have all seen over the past two years, concentrating the majority of a country's exports in a single country and market carries great risk.
We have also supported your efforts to reform legislation and eliminate red tape that has stunted business and investment. The “Guillotine Laws” have eliminated hundreds of regulations and opportunities for corruption, and the and the Regulatory Impact Assessment will ensure that new regulations make sense and are good for business.
Many more steps have to be taken as Moldova remains relatively unknown to outside investors and many road blocks have to be eliminated before people will choose to invest here rather than in another country. Over time, a good business climate will lead to more local and foreign investment and to more jobs and a more prosperous future for all Moldovans.
Many of you know that we have also worked closely with your Customs Service, which has been a leader in modeling reforms, such as monitoring systems and the rotating of officers around the country. These measures have proven effective in reducing corruption and increasing revenues. Reforms that increase transparency, accountability and which objectively assess and guide performance should be implemented across the entire government.
In the meantime, the most vulnerable members of society have to be shielded. Progress has been made, though of course more can be done, in the fight against trafficking in persons. Last November the Moldovan government made a decision to open raion centers to assist and protect victims of trafficking. We have signed an agreement with the government to support its new Center for Combating Trafficking in Persons.
However, none of these efforts will really prove effective if people are still forced by poverty and lack off opportunity to go abroad, and if the victims of this scourge are welcomed home with stigma, rather than with love.
This is exactly why, working together with many local independent and international partners, we have supported transitional centers, counseling and job training to help reintegrate the victims and offer alternatives to those at risk. Yesterday, I opened one of these centers in Calarasi.
The Media
Ensuring the existence of a free and independent media is also among the most important challenges facing any nation that aspires to meet the highest standards of democracy. Without independence, the freedom to openly criticize those in authority, and the ability to carry differing points of view to all its citizens, other, key ingredients of a democracy, such as a working civil society, transparency and accountability, can weaken and fade. We welcome the fact that, in principle and sometimes even in the law, Moldovan authorities have embraced these shared values.
Unfortunately, we have seen what appears to be inconsistencies in this commitment: media that can report on governmental activities without governmental agencies blocking the way, media that are not the focus of seemingly politically-motivated searches of their premises and business records, and reporters who need not fear intimidation by law enforcement authorities. Most observers feel that Teleradio Moldova, nominally a public broadcaster, shows a clear and measurable bias in favor of the government and the ruling party. The recent events involving Antena-C in Chisinau and Radio 103.5FM in Balti are disturbing.
Political Life
I have had the pleasure of meeting a great many political leaders here in Moldova. Some are members of the government or the Communist Party. Others toil in opposition. All love their country. All say they are committed to the democratic process.
All of the elections held in the country since 2005 have been recognized by the OSCE as generally meeting most European and international standards. I would note, in particular, the Bashkan elections held recently in Gagauzia.
During the first round, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, the OSCE Mission to Moldova, and other local and international observers cited some shortcomings, such as unequal campaign conditions, inappropriate use of administrative resources and preferential access to the media. These shortcomings were not present during the second round.
The run-off elections in Gagauzia were held in a calm and orderly manner and were largely consistent with international standards for democratic elections. We strongly hope that the upcoming local elections will continue that pattern.
For the upcoming local elections, Moldovan and international monitors also will be looking at political parties' access to media and to voters, fair allocation of public resources to all candidates, proper listing of eligible voters, the checking of voter identification against voter lists, voter privacy in the voting booth, and appeals procedures for voters not on the voting list, for example.
Proper elections are important and the proper conduct of elections (by that I mean the whole electoral process, not just the events on the day of balloting) is a sign of readiness for EU membership.
But you all have to remember that once an election is held, a government has to be formed. To do so in a country with multiple parties normally requires the building of lasting coalitions with parties which ran against each other – or at a minimum competed against each other. Coalition building requires compromise. Compromise is not treason.
Infrastructure
Good roads, utilities, drinkable water and health care facilities. Wow, would those be nice here! I returned earlier this week from vacation in Spain. Not so many years ago Spain lacked quality roads, utilities were not so great, you drank bottled water if you didn't want to get sick and while it had some great health care available in Barcelona and Madrid, the same was not true all over Spain.
I mention this because Spain now has standards that many here would be only too happy to have. It took serious investment by the Spanish government and others (including the EU) to improve the situation. I know that the Moldovan government is investing in infrastructure. The international community is helping as well.
How Can the U.S. Help?
We are celebrating this year the 15th anniversary of the establishment of Moldovan-U.S. relations. I am proud to say that the United States has assisted Moldova since the beginning of our relations to reach goals that Moldovans set for themselves. Since 1992 U.S. development and military assistance has totaled over half a billion dollars. We have worked with Moldovans as you strengthened your democratic institutions: parliamentary functions, political parties, local governments, electoral commissions and civil administration. We've worked with civil society to give common citizens more opportunities to be heard and participate in the political, economic and social decisions that determine Moldova's path. We've shared with government leaders our knowledge about military reform, security and law enforcement issues. We have offered support and training for the development of a free and responsible media.
We also have helped in economic reform and agribusiness development. We worked with government civil servants who labored to privatize parts of government infrastructure. We have worked with farmers to expand agricultural production and find new markets for their goods. Through our educational and other exchange programs we have sent thousands of Moldovans to the United States and invited many Americans to Moldova so that we may learn from each other and share our dreams.
We are in the grasp of something big. Under President Bush's leadership the United States decided to reward those countries which were helping themselves, showing positive results in democracy building, investing in their citizens and stemming corruption. That program is called The Millennium Challenge.
Notwithstanding setbacks in the reform picture, from the perspective of a foreign observer it seems Moldova is mostly on track toward its aspirations to become a modern European state. In recognition of Moldova's cumulative efforts at reform, last December the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation signed with Moldova a Threshold program worth $24.7 million in technical assistance.
The Threshold program is dedicated to fighting corruption in parts of the health sector, in the tax, customs, and police structures, in the efforts of the Center to Combat Economic Crimes and Corruption, and in strengthening the ability of the media and civil society to monitor corruption. In just one example of the link between fighting corruption and development, I note the importance of judicial reform. Not only because no country can be said to be governed fairly if its laws are not enforced equally, but also because domestic and foreign companies will not invest in countries where the judicial system cannot or will not protect their rights. Moldova’s judicial system can be reformed to automate and better track legal cases, to make courtroom decisions more transparent and predictable, to allow for public monitoring of court activity, and to improve the implementation of judicial decisions.
If Moldova continues on the reform path that I described earlier, reduces corruption, increases governmental transparency and allows a free and unfettered media, it could sign a larger Compact program with the MCC, which could be worth perhaps as much as a few hundreds of millions of dollars.
This month, a small group of Moldovan government officials will be in Washington attending MCC "university" to learn what Moldova must do to draft an application for an MCC grant to help eliminate one or more impediments to Moldova's economic growth. As you saw in Brussels in December at the international donors' conference, Moldova has the active support of many European and other developed countries. We want to see you succeed.
The Way to the Future
My country was founded and grew strong thanks to the dreams and hard work of the immigrants who sought freedom and better opportunities in America.
The path you decide to take is, of course, up to you. The dreams you decide to pursue for your country are yours alone. The demands you will make of your political and business and educational and military leaders are yours to make. It is ultimately the responsibility of every Moldovan to participate in making this a stronger, more fair country, a country which Moldovans want to stay in and want to return to.
Moldova is now on the doorstep of the European Union. You will need to define again your relations with the EU. This is the moment to decide what you want Moldova's future to be.
Moldova's future is your responsibility. You may decide to take your place in the family of European democracies, or you may decide that the system you have today is sufficient. Such a responsibility is a heavy burden. The United States and your many friends will help you, if you want us to. However, the responsibility, the choices, and the future are yours.