The Republic of Moldova denounces three agreements concluded with the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), as part of the process of modernizing national legislation and bringing it into line with European Union standards.
As MOLDPRES reported on Thursday, November 27, bills developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance were adopted in the first reading in parliament.
One of such agreements is – on a visa-free regime for CIS citizens, signed in Bishkek in 1992. Its denunciation will directly affect citizens of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, who will need a visa to enter Moldova.
Secretary of State of the Moldova’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mihai Mytu explained that the decision to denounce the agreement on a visa-free regime is inevitable. “The European Commission recommended that we bring the visa policy of the Republic of Moldova into line with the list of third countries that pose a threat from the point of view of illegal migration or security,” the diplomat noted.
He added that the denunciation of the agreement would directly affect citizens of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. “In the process of negotiations with these two states, we propose to conclude bilateral agreements on the abolition of reciprocal visas for holders of diplomatic and service passports,” said a representative of the foreign ministry.
Regarding the history of the negotiations, Mıtu clarified that “since 2004, these states have been proposed to conclude bilateral agreements on the reciprocal abolition of visas, but so far no response has been received on this issue.”
Two other denunciation agreements relate to the principles of collecting indirect taxes on the export and import of goods between the CIS states (signed in Moscow in 1998) and measures to ensure settlements between economic organizations in the CIS states (signed in Tashkent in 1992). In all cases, the provisions of the treaties are considered outdated and have no legal force.
So far, Moldova has denounced 64 CIS treaties as part of the ongoing process of bringing its legislation into line with European norms and standards.