Foreign relations of Moldova

Wörner and Snegur signing PfP on March 16, 1994

Partnership for Peace

Central European Initiative

After achieving independence from the Soviet Union, Moldova had established relations with other European countries. A course for European Union integration and neutrality define the country's foreign policy guidelines.

In 1995 the country became the first post-Soviet state admitted to the Council of Europe. In addition to its participation in NATO's Partnership for Peace program, Moldova is also a member state of the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the North Atlantic Cooperation Council, the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Francophonie and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

In 2005 Moldova and EU established an action plan that sought to improve the collaboration between the two neighboring structures. After the War of Transnistria, Moldova had sought a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the Transnistria region by working with Romania, Ukraine, and Russia, calling for international mediation, and cooperating with the OSCE and UN fact-finding and observer missions.

Overview [edit]

Foreign relations of Moldova

Moldova has established diplomatic relations with 97 states,^[1] the Holy See,^[1] the Sovereign Military Order of Malta,^[1] and the European Union.^[1]

Moldova has not yet established diplomatic relations with:

Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Haiti, St.Kitts and Nevis, St.Lucia, St.Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago
Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Uruguay
Andorra, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, San Marino
Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, DRCongo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Iraq, Laos, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan
Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
The states with limited recognition.

Relations with the European Union [edit]

Main article: Moldova and the European Union

Moldova currently aspires to join the European Union^[2] and is implementing its first three-year Action Plan within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) of the EU.^[3]

Relations with NATO [edit]

Main article: NATO and Moldova

NATO relations with Moldova date back to 1992, when the country joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council. Moldova works alongside NATO Allies and Partner countries in a wide range of areas through the Partnership for Peace and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council.

Relations with Romania [edit]

Main article: Romanian-Moldovan relations

Moldova's relations with its western neighbour, Romania, have been stressed since 1994. Most of Moldova was part of Romania during the interwar period (1918–40) and linguists generally agree that the Moldovan language is in fact identical with Romanian. However, Moldovans have been ambivalent about whether they consider themselves Romanians or Moldovans. Early signs that Romania and Moldova might unite after both countries achieved emancipation from communist rule quickly faded. Romania remains interested in Moldovan affairs, especially that country's civil conflict with the breakaway republic of Transnistria. However, the two countries have been unable even to reach agreement on a basic bilateral treaty; Romania is insistent (against determined Moldovan resistance) that such a treaty would have to refer to Romania and Moldova's 'special relationship'. Beginning in 1994, the two countries enjoyed a visa-free arrangement that ended on January 1, 2007, with Romania's entry into the European Union. This prompted many Moldovan citizens to apply for Romanian citizenship.^[4]

Relations with Russia and other post-Soviet states [edit]

Main article: Moldovan-Russian relations

The Moldovan Parliament approved the country's membership in the Commonwealth of Independent States and the CIS charter on economic union in April 1994. Moldova however has never participated in any military aspects of CIS, citing its neutrality status.

In 1998 Moldova contributed to the founding of GUAM, a regional cooperation agreement made up of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova. Although the agreement initially included a declaration of mutual defense, Moldova has since declared its disinterest in participating in any GUAM-based mutual defense initiative.

Russia continues to maintain military presence in the Transnistrian region of Moldova, despite previous agreements with Moldova and within OSCE and CAF to withdraw its troops and ammunition.

Separatist movements [edit]

Main article: Transnistria

The territory of Moldova includes the separatist Transnistria region. Transnistria had a particularly large non-Moldovan population (about 60%) and broke away from Moldova less than a year after Moldova became independent at the fall of the Soviet Union. It has its own de facto government and acts independently from Chişinău since the War of Transnistria. The international diplomatic situation with respect to the question of Transnistria determines and is determined by Moldova's relations with Russia. Russia, Ukraine, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, EU, and United States are involved at different degrees in the conflict resolution.

Bilateral relationships [edit]

Main article: Diplomatic missions of Moldova

Moldova has embassy-level relationships with:

Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom in Europe (excl. Russia and Turkey)
Azerbaijan,^[5] the People's Republic of China, Israel, the Russian Federation, Turkey and the United States, outside Europe
Representation Delegation of the European Union, the United Nations (in Geneva and New York City), the Council of Europe (Strasbourg), and the OSCE (Vienna).

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Armenia		Armenia is represented in Moldova through its embassy in Kiev (Ukraine). Moldova is represented in Armenia through its embassy in Moscow (Russia). There are around 7,500 people of Armenian descent living in Moldova. Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: presentation of the Moldovan ambassador’s credentials to the Armenian Foreign Minister Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs: list of bilateral treaties with Armenia
Austria	1992-03-25	see Austria–Moldova relations Austrian Embassy, Chişinău Austria is represented in Moldova through its embassy in Bucharest (Romania) and through an honorary consulate in Chişinău. Moldova has an embassy in Vienna and an honorary consulate in Innsbruck.^[6]
Belarus		see Belarus–Moldova relations There is no common border between Moldova and Belarus. The number of Belorussians in Moldova and of Moldovans in Belarus is insignificant.
Belgium		Moldova has an embassy in Brussels. Trade is modest between Moldova and Belgium .for the year 2005: 44.7 million USD was traded between the two countries increasing by 33.4% compared to the year 2004 ^[7] Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Belgium Belgian Embassy in Bucharest (French) Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova Belgian Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation
Bulgaria	1992-02-05	Bulgaria recognized Moldova on December 28, 1991. Since 1992, Bulgaria has an embassy in Chişinău.^[8] Moldova has embassy in Sofia.^[9] Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe and of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Croatia	1992-07-28	Moldova has recognised the independence of the Republic of Croatia on May 29, 1992. Croatia is represented in Moldova through its embassy in Bucharest (Romania). Moldova is represented in Croatia through its embassy in Budapest (Hungary). Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration: list of bilateral treaties with Moldova Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration about relations with Croatia
Cyprus	1992-02-12	Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs: list of bilateral treaties with Moldova Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration about relations with Cyprus
Czech Republic		Czech Embassy, Chişinău
Denmark	1992-01-20	See Denmark–Moldova relations
Estonia	1992-11-10	Before 1918, both countries were part of the Russian Empire and before 1991 both countries were part of the USSR. Moldova recognized Estonia on August 28, 1991 Estonia recognized Moldova on February 20, 1992. Estonia is represented in Moldova through its embassy in Kiev (Ukraine) and through an honorary consulate in Chişinău. * Moldova is represented in Estonia through its embassy in Tallinn (Estonia). Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe. Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relation with Moldova Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relation with Estonia
Finland	1992-02-26	Finland recognised Moldova's independence on December 30, 1991. Finland is represented in Moldova through its embassy in Bucharest, Romania. Moldova is represented in Finland its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.^[10] Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland about relations with Moldova
France		France opened an Embassy in Chişinău When visiting the respective country, a mutual visa obligation exists for both nationals for any border crossing, except for transfer passengers. A lot of French companies invest in Moldova. France Telecom with Orange as GSM operator. Or also Société Générale with Mobias Banca. There are also a lot of offshore IT companies in Chişinău. Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Paris French Embassy in Chisinau Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
Georgia	1992-06-25	Until 1991, both countries were part of the USSR and before 1918 part of the Russian empire. Georgia is represented in Moldova through its embassy in Bucharest (Romania). Moldova is represented in Georgia through its embassy in Baku (Azerbaijan). Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Moldova
Germany		see Germany–Moldova relations Germany has an embassy in Chişinău. Moldova has an embassy in Berlin.
Greece	01992-03-2727 March 1992	see Greece-Moldovan relations Diplomatic relations between Greece and Modlova were established 27 March 1992 after the collapse of the Soviet Union Moldova is represented in Greece through its embassy in Athens, opened in 2003.^[11] Greece is represented in Moldova through its honorary consulate in Chișinău and its embassy in Kiev. See also Moldovan Embassy, Athens
Hungary		Hungarian Embassy, Chişinău
Ireland	1992	Ireland is represented in Moldova through its embassy in Bucharest (Romania).^[12] Moldova is represented in Ireland through its embassy in London (United Kingdom).^[13] Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe. Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Ireland
Israel	1992-06-22	see Israel–Moldova relations Israel recognized Moldova on December 25, 1991. Israel is represented in Moldova through its embassy in Kiev. Moldova has an embassy in Tel Aviv and an honorary consulate in Haifa.
Italy		Italy opened an Embassy in Chişinău. The Italian ambassador to Moldova with residence in Bucharest is Daniele Mancini. Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Rome Italian Embassy in Bucharest Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Japan	1992-03-16	see Foreign relations of Japan
Lithuania		Lithuanian Embassy, Chişinău
Malta		Malta is represented in Moldova through a non resident embassy based in Valletta (in the Foreign Affairs Ministry). Moldova is represented in Malta through its embassy in Rome (Italy). Direction of the Maltese representation in Moldova Direction of the Moldovan representation in Malta Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration about the relation with Malta
Poland		Polish Embassy, Chişinău
Romania		See Moldovan–Romanian relations Romanian Embassy, Chişinău Romanian Consulate General, Bălţi Romanian Consulate General, Cahul Moldovan Embassy, Bucharest Moldovan Consulate General, Iaşi
Russia		see Moldova–Russia relations Relations between Moldova and Russia deteriorated in November 2003 over a Russian proposal for the solution of the Transnistrian conflict, which Moldovan authorities refused to accept. In the following election, held in 2005, the Communist party made a formal 180 degree turn and was re-elected on a pro-Western platform,^{[citation needed]} with Voronin being re-elected to a second term as president.
Serbia	1995	Moldova is represented in Serbia through its embassy in Sofia (Bulgaria). Serbia is represented in Moldova through its embassy in Kiev (Ukraine). Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Moldova
Slovenia	1993-10-27	Both countries are represented in each other through their embassies in Budapest (Hungary). Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe and the Francophonie.
Turkey		Moldova has an embassy in Ankara. Turkey has an embassy in Chişinău. Both countries are full members of BSEC. There are around 11,000 Turks who live in Moldova. Moldovan embassy in Ankara Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Moldova
United Kingdom		United Kingdom opened a British Embassy, Chişinău.^[14] Embassy of The Republic of Moldova to United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova
United States	1991-12-25	see Moldova – United States relations Embassy of the United States to Moldova Moldovan Embassy, Washington, D.C. The United States recognized the independence of Moldova on December 25, 1991 and opened an Embassy in its capital, Chişinău, in March 1992. A trade agreement providing reciprocal most-favored-nation tariff treatment became effective in July 1992. An Overseas Private Investment Corporation agreement, which encourages U.S. private investment by providing direct loans and loan guarantees, was signed in June 1992. A bilateral investment treaty was signed in April 1993. Generalized system of preferences status was granted in August 1995, and some Eximbank coverage became available in November 1995.