Playing with Security in a World in Which Nothing Is Safe NEWSLETTER

Foreign Policy Association together with Friedrich- Ebert-Stiftung offer you a newsletter on foreign policy and European integration issues of the Republic of Moldova. The newsletter is part of the “Foreign Policy Dialogue” joint Project. NEWSLETTER MONTHLY BULLETIN APRIL 2019 NR.3 (157) Synthesis and Foreign Policy Debates The newsletter is developed by Sorina Ştefârţă, editor-coordinator TOPICS OF THE EDITION: 1. Stela Jantuan, political analyst: “There are a lot of elements that create this puzzle of insecurity in the “MD” version” 2. Editorial by Victoria Bucataru, executive director of APE: “From an uncertain zone to security generator: a long way for us to take the first step” 3. Dumitru Țâra, media expert: “In terms of information security, the Republic of Moldova is a wide-open and fence-free courtyard” 4. Looking from the outside. Helga Maria Schmid, Secretary General of the EEAS: “A more assertive EU in a volatile world”

News in Brief The development of bilateral relations in areas of common interest - this was the key topic of the recent meeting between Prime Minister Playing with security in a world Pavel Filip and US Ambassador Derek J. Hogan in Chisinau. Pavel Filip mentioned the importance of bilateral cooperation with the USA, which is a strategic partner of our country, and expressed gratitude for the constant support provided to the implementation of democratic and structural reforms and the strengthening of institutional capacities. The in which nothing is safe officials discussed also the continuation of the programme with the IMF, the local public administration reform and the expansion of the commercial-economic collaboration. To this end, in April, a mission of US businessmen interested in investing in areas such as industry, agriculture, ICT or tourism will arrive in Chisinau. At the same time, a delegation of the US Congress will pay a visit to the Republic of Moldova, in relation to which the prime minister stressed the importance of capitalizing on the strategic dialogue between Chisinau and Washington. He stressed that the Republic of Moldova still counts on the support and assistance of the United States to ensure the sustainable development of the country on the basis of Western values.

The framework for cooperation with the European Union, as well as the priorities of the internal reform agenda, require a major focus in order to ensure a real perspective of the Europeanization process of the Republic of Moldova. The tenth anniversary of the Eastern Partnership (EP) is a good opportunity to review the main outcomes and challenges and to formulate new objectives that will contribute to the improvement of the European integration and the implementation of EU standards and values. This was one of the key conclusions of the roundtable organized recently by IPRE in cooperation with the National Platform of the EP Civil Society Forum. During the event, a retrospective of the main results, as well as of the Republic of Moldova’s debates within the EP, was made. The most important results are: (1) a revised and strengthened dialogue and cooperation framework with the EU through the Association Agreement; (2) over 1.5 mln. of citizens have travelled to the EU due to the liberalization of the visa regime in April 2014. (3) the economic rapprochement of the EU due to the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area – the exports to the EU have increased from 53.26% in 2014 to 68.79% in 2018.

The Diplomatic Institute of the Moldovan Foreign Office launched in March its courses aiming at providing highly qualified staff for both the diplomatic service and other central public administration Sorina Ștefârță made lots of jokes about which is why security is authorities that will promote the national interests of the Republic of Moldova in the international relations at a it and would have even a topical subject for all professional level. According to Minister Tudor Ulianovschi, We live in an increasingly laughed their heads off. the visible and invisible the necessity to open such an institution was dictated by the Republic of Moldova’s intention to promote a pro-active insecure world, in times But, as such a polemic is governments of the foreign policy, bringing as an example the deepening of diplomatic relations with countries from different regions, more troubled than unimaginable today, let’s planet. including opening this year of four new diplomatic missions. The key objective of the Institute consists in the professional ever ... Our Middle Ages assume the statement training of first-time employees of the Moldovan Foreign ancestors, I am almost as an axiom: an insecure It is true that every Office in fields of interest such as international law, the theory and practice of diplomatic negotiations, etiquette convinced, would have world in turbulent times, nation sees its security and protocol, security issues, diplomatic and consular correspondence, European integration, Moldovan diplomacy objectives and regional cooperation. The courses aim also to Monthly Bulletin, Nr. 3 (157), april 2019 improve the analytical and expertise capacities of the new 64, Sciusev str. MD-2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, Tel-Fax: +373 22 21 09 86 generation of Moldovan diplomats. Website: www.ape.md E-mail: [email protected] APRIL 2019 2 Synthesis and Foreign Policy Debates

problems in its own way. Thus, for a country comparable to us in terms There are a lot of elements of territory, Holland - out of the 41,526 square kilometres of the kingdom, 33,881 are land, the other 7645 being that create this puzzle of insecurity water - the biggest threat (at least in spring) is that the tulips may not in the “MD” version blossom ... I’m exaggerating, of course, even though the tulip is also a national symbol and a source of income for the Stela Jantuan, political analyst Dutch, so it is really not the case to look at it. However, compared with the country together with its people would flowers, Moldova’s “package” of worries like to leave? Do you feel safe at present, seems bigger and heavier. but also when you think about the future? For the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, everything appears to be I have to admit that I have never a source of insecurity in their own imagined that I will feel so vulnerable country: from the kindergartens and in my own country. And I don’t refer to schools for children to pensions (and “major” security issues, but to “trivial” for many, it’s the lack of it as pensions things: health, education, everyday life. are very small) and the quasi-abstract For me, the best indicator of a state’s character of the medical insurance; functionality is when people feel happy from officially good roads to the de and comfortable in their habitat. We do facto full of potholes, from villages not have such a feeling, unfortunately, increasingly haunted by criminals of all FOTO: EUROPA LIBERĂ and I think this is the result of both the sorts, to the eternal national question policies promoted - or less promoted, or aving been part of a political project “where to keep my small savings: at the poor policies - by the decision-makers and once for four years- she has been bank or in the jar? H our attitude. For we allow the decision part of the PDM’s parliamentary team makers not to keep their promises and – and then having detached from the Against the above-mentioned treat people strictly as an electoral pool, party for four more years, today Stela background, it is natural that the real which they remember only every four Jantuan says she cannot find herself security risks - defense, economic, years. De facto, we are an indifferent in any of the existent parties. She has informational, etc. - remain somehow in society that has no sense of community decided, at least for the moment, to stay the shadow of people’s daily concerns. and solidarity - and we are all suffering away from politics and observe closely Nobody thinks of it in terms of threat from that. I think it’s our education or the the political and social phenomena that that in order to cross the Nistru, you lack of education which is the reason. have to say you are going to a wedding take place in the Republic of Moldova. As observer she is often inconvenient or a funeral or that, as one of the We failed, because we didn’t set protagonists of this edition of the given her background of historian and newsletter, the media expert Dumitru sociologist but also her way of calling the development model from the Ţara says, the Black Sea missiles can things their name. Also with her I started start reach Chisinau as quickly as the news the conversation by asking how safe coming from there. she feels in her own country – in terms Is it not too harsh, however, to accuse of individual, institutional, and state people of politicians’ inability to govern Because, yes, in an insecure world in security. and, at the same time, of their enormous troubled times, security has various ability to lie and steal? aspects. About these we are inviting you Ms. Jantuan, how do you manage to read in the following newsletter. to live and work ... in the Republic of I don’t accuse anybody, but our Moldova, where it seems the entire politicians don’t really have the capacity

to govern, develop policies, and propose almost anecdotal way, the social policies, Sometimes it seems to me that we went development visions for more than four for example, are limited now to pensions, back 300 years ago... years. And my fellow citizens, in the salaries and, more recently, Easter gifts. absence of civic education and not only, While the social policies should be linked How real are the security threats don’t know they can and should even to education, health care, economic that our politicians often speak about hold the politicians accountable for the processes. It’s like a living organism, depending on their political interests? promises made and unrealized, and for without which there is no movement - For it is enough to look at the media their deeds. And this is in addition to our maybe just a Brownian one. monitoring to get convinced that the older and newer problems: the lack of a most popular manipulation trick is the national identity, implicitly the sense of Today the situations are more frequent “national saviour” that comes to save us abandonment by the state; distortion of than before when people without a high- from internal and external “enemies”. the such notions as patriotism, good and level education come to high-level politics bad, fair and unjust; the lack of a symbolic and are even enjoying success. How do The politicians in power over the past space that would unite us around a we deal with this phenomenon which, in decades have somehow accredited the common idea for the Republic of Moldova; a sense, is also a contradiction? idea that being a small country surrounded the justice that only justice cannot be by hostile powers and depending on the called. There are a lot of elements that I can only say that history is repeating big geopolitical actors, they should play in create this puzzle of insecurity in the itself. And usually it repeats twice: the a chaotic manner ... I believe this is what “MD” version. I have said it earlier that first time -in a version of tragedy, and played a trick on us: we preferred to be the mistake of all the governments and the second - in the form of a farce. This sneaky, stand on two boats, using the parliaments we’ve had is that they did not has also been the case in the universal contradictions between the big players establish clearly, immediately after the and European history: generating, often instead of developing our own way and see collapse of the USSR, the development artificial, economic and social crises, how we can translate it into practice, living model for the Moldovan society, taking leading to a redeployment of markets, together with both big and small powers. into account all our specific aspects. It was spheres of influence, and the restoration And by explicitly articulating our internal then that the social and economic model of world order. We all know what this has policies, we would have been able to set should have been established, followed resulted into. Unfortunately, indeed, today a foreign policy model that would have by the political one, so that our country, we are witnessing similar phenomena in allowed us to be a player to be taken into being already independent, could turn into both Europe and the USA. The Russian account. But we are a kind of “situational” a real success project. Federation is trying to maintain some small blackmailer who, if it gets angry with traditionalist positions, a kind of national the EU or the USA, it threatens to go with You have been in politics too, so you patriotism with nostalgia for monarchy Russia, and if it quarrels with Moscow, it know that things are not happening ...... These are phenomena and realities says it goes with Europe. How can one trust that cannot but influence the Republic of why? Because they simply don’t happen?! such a partner?! Moldova as we don’t live isolated. Including the country project you are talking about. Regarding the foreign policy and the We have a medieval political big regional and global players, at this In order for this to happen, broad management - and we are not year’s Munich Security Conference, consensus is needed which we have consistent President Igor Dodon presented his vision almost always lacked. And there is still in this area. It’s a concept that he talked need for education, training. Thorough Instead, we like to say that we are a about earlier - a balanced East-West and in-depth knowledge in various specific case.... policy for the Republic of Moldova. Have areas are increasingly lacking among the you seen this document, which has not political class, while without it you don’t We may be specific, but that’s just been, by the way, publicly discussed at have the capacity to understand how a because, living in the 21st century, we home with the experts and civil society? modern state should work, how to create have a political management of the Middle And how realistic is this approach? synergy between institutions and key Age level and style. When local feudalists sectors, how to manage social processes, only responded to the ruler, and the only In my opinion, it is an absolutely wrong to develop the right policies. For, in an law was the law made only by that ruler. and populist path that is not going to

Monthly Bulletin, Nr. 3 (157), april 2019 64, Sciusev str. MD-2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, Tel-Fax: +373 22 21 09 86 Website: www.ape.md E-mail: [email protected] APRIL 2019 4Synthesis and Foreign Policy Debates make our country a strong player even at by the business once created by him, and constantly around 50/ 50 ... A part of a regional level. Simply, we are not the which eventually removed him from the the society has adopted this pro-Russian state that could secure this balance that equation; also the positions of the Russian orientation, which they probably see as Mr Dodon is talking about. Ukraine - yes. Federation have weakened because it has a panacea and a form of self-protection, Republic of Moldova - no. The explanation no longer those exclusive economic and including in the sense of ethnic security. is simple: we are not consistent. Even political instruments it used to have at And as long as this attitude persists in the foreign policy concept - a field for that time. Consequently, a foreign policy the society, the pro-Russian parties are which stability and determination are vital document today should have resulted going to have supporters. Similarly, the and - has changed several times over the from these realities. But even more than big business is made with Russia, and past 15 years. Each government came that, I think we need now a social pact on there exist also the necessary control with its own concept which was totally the geopolitical path of the Republic of tools, especially for the politicians who in dissonance with both geopolitical Moldova - a pact that we cannot achieve benefit from this business. And this is not and domestic realities. President Dodon today, however, because of our divided necessarily on the Moldovan or Russian is taking the same way proposing an society. territory, it can also be in the EU. There approach which is simply of no interest are certain underground stones that keep to the big players. And here I am forced Perhaps the “Pro-Moldova” concept us very seriously in somebody’s sight. And to get back to the idea of coherence: if a launched by PDM amid much fanfare that speaks volumes about the country’s country is not coherent either internally or almost half a year ago could become such security level. externally, economically or socially, what a pact? kind of balance are we talking about?! However, in 2018 several strategic I think that even those who developed it documents were adopted in this respect There are certain underground forgot about it. - the National Defense Strategy, the stones that keep us tight in Information Security Strategy... somebody’s sight... What do you think of the opinion that Tiraspol should in general be excluded Sometimes I have the impression they About the balance contained in the from the negotiation format, since the de are directed against political opponents document presented by President facto decision-maker is Russia? or citizens rather than aiming at the Dodon... national security of the country. Let’s It has always been known that the keys take, for instance, this “blue alert code” I haven’t seen this document, as it to solving the Transnistrian conflict are in recently announced by the Security and seems that no one in the Republic of Moscow. And as long as there is an open Information Service. What was the ground Moldova has, except for those who or frozen conflict on our territory and for such a decision for an indefinite participated in its development. But foreign military forces, we will remain a period? I’m inclined to believe that the I understand from the press that the potential risk of insecurity. However, as political negotiations for the establishment Stability Pact for Moldova which was I said earlier, the position of the Russian of the parliamentary majority are to drafted during President Voronin, and Federation today is much weaker, blame as they are very bad for the ruling which I also contributed to as a Ministry of including because Ukraine has changed its party. That’s being the situation, I will not Reintegration employee, was at its core. approach. Respectively, new opportunities be surprised if a group of terrorists, with We succeeded, thanks to that Pact, to emerged to negotiate social, economic, connections from Russia, of course, will change the attitude of the EU and the USA and education projects. We need to appear and ACUM or PSRM will be blamed towards the Transnistrian conflict and to make the most of this. Direct dialogue for that. As a blackmail tool, nothing more. attract them as observers and thus change with Moscow is necessary, but we should Because “more” means more vision. Plus the negotiation format. It was a finding know that Russia is no longer controlling the ability and the courage to call things that weakened the position of Tiraspol Transnistria. their name. If, as the current government and Russia. But that was about 15 years says, Russia is our enemy no. 1, let’s say ago. Today the rules of the game have How much is Russia controlling the this officially, as Ukraine did, for example, changed. The relations between the EU right bank of the Republic of Moldova including through policies and strategies. and the USA have changed, the European – through both business and political Union is building its own security identity. factor? Thank you for the interview. And there has been a lot of change over the Nistru too: the region is no longer The electoral results is an answer Sorina Ștefârță controlled by politicians like Smirnov, but to that- from one year to anther it is

Victoria Bucătaru, post-soviet state with a frozen conflict on its Executive director, Foreign Policy territory - moreover, as a state controlled by Association the Russian Federation - the citizens don’t consider the Transnistrian settlement as a Security is a state and a necessity that vital priority. On the contrary, this is among concerns us all, whether we are talking about the last in the list of priorities and interests of the citizens and everything the security the Moldovans... The explanation, of course, means for them - housing, health, future, the may lie in the inefficient communication of the conviction that the institutions protect them authorities, generated by the desire to keep - or about the state machinery. However, in the subject as “low profile” internally or by the public space of the Republic of Moldova, reduced institutional capacities in this sense, there is too little discussion about the concepts “cumulated” with the general incapacity for of national security, individual security and viable functioning of the Republic of Moldova. safety, and security culture. Even less people discuss about Likewise, a so-called “security discourse” is lacking, and the reduction in the level of internal security through the a tough position that would subsequently have electoral increasing degradation of the democratic governance implications is avoided by the politicians. system. In the given context, if we look at the main issues In fact, most of the time, in our geographic area, we preoccupying the citizens - poverty, corruption, associate security with the Transnistrian issue settlement unemployment, the future of children- the existence of a and, respectively, we perceive security threats from a war in the region (the conflict in Ukraine) and interethnic rather narrow perspective, and namely from the systemic relations (often referred to as an outbreak of instability) vulnerabilities generated by the frozen conflict. The Republic are not found. Such a landscape clearly denotes that of Moldova, as a whole, is described, labelled, and identified there is no logical link between “chronic” insecurity as a conflict point, a conflict zone, a black hole... and the degradation of living standards generated by democratic slippages. National security and individual Although the national security and security sector reform security are analysed as independent concepts, the logical should be a priority for the political authorities and political interdependencies being ignored. The consequences of elites in Chisinau, they are constantly ignoring the long- such a percussion not only generate internal vulnerabilities, standing visions of reforming the legislative and executive but also prevent the country from overcoming the state of structures empowered with security mandates. The sporadic transition and that of insecurity generator - a non-viable initiatives, the lack of a viable interinstitutional cooperation state. system, and most importantly, the duality of strategic visions of security, weaken the Republic of Moldova from within A second crucial element for the security of the Republic of and thus generate insecurity externally, which is affecting Moldova, but also for the building of possible development the whole region. partnerships, is the security vision - which, unfortunately, is completely lacking despite the attempt to draw different But not only the lack of a systemic approach by the state in perspectives by the presidential institution, on the one the field is the problem. Although the Republic of Moldova hand, and by the Parliament and the Government, on is seen and treated by the international community as a the other hand (potentially revised according to the post- electoral scenarios).

Thus, at the recent Munich Security In terms of information Conference, President Igor Dodon presented the Comprehensive Package for Moldova, which, if security, the Republic of Moldova analysed in detail, is generating more questions than answers. De facto, the is a wide-open and fence-free Presidential Plan is a document built on the principle of a balanced foreign policy between East and West. But courtyard is this concept compatible under the current conditions and what would be Dumitru Țâra, media expert the price of such a policy? Because the idea of international recognition of the they offer. It is about the media and neutrality of the country is bringing the risks a state is subjected to if back to life the discussions about the doesn’t secure itself in this sense. inability of the Republic of Moldova to About information security and its decide its long-term strategic vision of various aspects, we have discussed security policies to be agreed upon by with Dumitru Ţâra, media expert, all internal actors. manager who has managed several media projects in his life and who In addition, the appearance of such knows the field ... first-hand. a document during the election campaign makes us wonder why this Mr. Ţâra, how safe do you feel in Plan was presented in Munich just Moldova? And what are the security now and especially why it was not issues that matter to you as a citizen? discussed in Chisinau before. Why are the issues related to the national From a physical security point of interests of the Republic of Moldova not publicly discussed as it is naturally ecurity is no longer just army and view, there is no problem. It is true assumed in a democratic state, but Sdefense, just like information that we are not in 2007-2008, when they look for the approval of the security is no longer only a you could leave the key in the car – foreign partners first? And why is sophisticated computer password - the small delinquency has somewhat the emphasis put on the position of although it is not the case to neglect increased - but we have lived much worse times. At the level of interaction third parties and not on the internal it either... That is why, in recent years, with the institutions, I think everything legitimacy? they have been discussing about is very individual and sometimes even information security “as part of the Only when we are able to answer subjective. As to the security in general package” with the development of these questions will we be able to ... nowhere in the world is perfect. build a security profile for our country the information society, the rise of and will we be able to understand social networks and the growing role And yet, not everywhere in the the vulnerabilities, but also the that the machines are occupying in world is declared, unexpectedly, a potential development opportunities. our lives, often replacing the people... blue level of terrorism threat as it A development from a bankrupt, But there is an area of information happened in Moldova last week... insecure state and insecurity security which, in an almost definitive generator to a reliable state that way, depends (yet) on the people - In fact, this announcement should brings security, economic and social more precisely, on what they propose have been made in the Republic of stability and safety to its citizens and to do with other people and with Moldova five years ago, when the war neighbours. At least, this would be a their minds, through the information began in Ukraine, because a war in our start.

immediate neighbourhood influences little about it in the public space. The What does the Moldovan media many things and phenomena. Or it people don’t understand, the state market look like actually today? should have been announced back has no time to think about it, while in 1991, when the armed conflict in the intellectuals got tired to talk about I’ll give you some figures. In Transnistria has started, continuing to it and finally gave up on it. We don’t Moldova it sells 1982 newspapers and be maintained for as long as we have have public debates on this topic, and magazines, of which almost 1,000 foreign military forces at a distance of I am surprised by those who are still originate/ are imported from Russia only 60 km from Chisinau. So for us wondering why we have such electoral and a little over 1,000 are in Russian. this is a constant threat and maybe results over the past ten years... Even those coming from Ukraine or its level should be not just “blue” but Belarus are bilingual. About 30-40 of much higher. Getting back to Ukraine, But it’s been for two years already them have propaganda or military those who believe that the war there since we’ve stopped broadcasting content, or things that were banned doesn’t concern us are at least naive. news from the Russian Federation, for or limited in the broadcasting area. Because in the Black Sea there are example. Can we say that the fence At the television level, there are 292 plenty of ships that can easily reach has started to be built? foreign TV channels in the Republic the Republic of Moldova - that’s not of Moldova, of which 180 are from even an average distance for them ... This is a first step that was, in the Russian Federation and 250 are in We like to analyse what is happening general, a political action. And it wasn’t Russian or have Russian content. Of in Syria, Venezuela or Iran, but we fail an attack but a response - a step too the 59 local televisions, I think only 11 to see that the Black Sea is at a stone’s small, in my opinion ... I know well the have exclusively Romanian content, throw in both political and geopolitical experience of the Baltic countries or while all the others have bilingual sense. And sometimes, I think, we the actions taken by the EU and the content or just Russian... Exactly these have a slightly uneducated and too Euro-Atlantic community in this sense. figures reinforce my conviction that we careless society in this sense I know pretty well also the situation must move towards the development in the Balkans. Even the friendly of the local audio-visual by switching We continue to be on an states to Russia have the information from the current mixt to local information platform of the space much better protected than televisions. And here I also refer to Russian Federation us. Kazakhstan, for example, has the Russian and Romanian TV stations excluded all foreign televisions from that have failed to create local content Perhaps it is just “slightly” the advertising market in order to over their 10-20 years of activity in the uninformed? Or it is informed in support their local audio-visual. Republic of Moldova. just one sense, by a single voice? Belarus has transferred all foreign For faster than any rocket, what televisions, including the Russian ones, Georgia and Ukraine are the human mind can get is the only to cable and IPTV retransmission. proof to the fact that stopping information - false, interpretable, Nowhere there is such a mixture as we rebroadcasting is not a drama manipulative... have in the Republic of Moldova with local TVs based on retransmissions Speaking about stopping the re- It’s not for the first time that from Russia, Romania or other states. broadcasting, you said earlier in an I’m saying it: regarding the media In addition, let’s not forget that it’s article that it should be gradual, not informational security, the Republic not only the news programmes, the radical, so that the Government can of Moldova is a wide-open and military analysis programmes, or the think over the steps. We know it very fence-free courtyard. For nearly political talk shows that are used as well that nothing is more sustainable three decades since Independence, means of influence. The most powerful in this world than the transition... we continue to find ourselves on tool of Russia is the entertainment, the informational platform of the the entertainment content - movies, I used to say that, but today I’m in Russian Federation as a result of the Comedy Clubs, various applications - favour of a more drastic solution - for consequences of the Soviet Union, that “are leaking” the most impossible example, starting with 1 January 2020, so to speak, and we are talking very ideas... there should be no rebroadcasting. I

mean, anyway, there is a six or eight- regulated than the print or online seriously. They all copy-paste from the month period in which televisions media? communiques, very few speak foreign can transform or create their languages. We have media that is a true content. Otherwise, we will continue In fact, the audio-visual is the only Moldova planet ... This vicious circle to complain instead of looking for regulated type of media. At the same can be broken, for example, by creating solutions. We have the model of time, I would argue against the strict a centre of excellence for continuous Georgia and Ukraine where this regulation of the online. However, training and education of journalists happened overnight because of the the online media institutions should based on an individual approach. I am war. In Ukraine, which closed 83 TVs of be brought into a legal space, being convinced there would be opening Russian origin, the TV content became obliged to register. This would solve from both donors and the state. Only more qualitative than that of Russian quickly also the problem of anonymous nobody is starting this engine. TVs. They found reality show solutions, news sites. Those that do not comply they started producing almost 100 should be closed. Technically, this is By the way, you were one of the movies and TV series a year, so these very simple as MoldData is a state members of the Working Group industries have naturally grown. For institution... Otherwise, with regard to on Media Legislation set up at the the Republic of Moldova, the optimal the online- as in the case of the audio- initiative of the former speaker of solution would be a gradual one, but no visual or written press- all the legal Parliament. To what extent did this more than one year or two. and deontological norms concerning group respond to the challenges of journalism should apply. The freedom information security? How do you imagine politicians of speech and such notions as honour, will accept this for it depends only on dignity, Administrative Code or Criminal First of all, I have to say that on them... How would President Dodon, Code should apply as well. certain segments the Group has been for example, give up on the Russian very serious, as well as the four quite content that his TV stations are In some cases, the state should important documents that have been rebroadcasting from his holding which have a tougher intervention adopted: the Audio-visual Media can ensure him political rating? Service Code, the National Concept So, the information security on Media Development, the Law on I believe there are enough qualified depends also on the quality of Attraction of Foreign Investments people to create local content on the journalism? in the area of film production and President’s three TV channels. Besides, of other audio-visual products, and I’m convinced that if this question Our media tends to turn into a the Information Security Concept, aroused, they would think and come to scandal. The culture, deontology, and which later became the Information the conclusion that they cannot keep education seem to be less important Security Strategy and the Action Plan three televisions – so they may leave for the sake of audiences. It’s no longer for its implementation. So, I think the only two. As to the content – certain exciting or profitable to do analyses, to year 2018 was a good one in the area shows, movies, etc. - they will be able say real and serious things. But the role of information security regulation. to buy it and not rebroadcast. It is a of the press, apart from the informative We will see what happens next, technical trick in essence, because if one, is also educational. Therefore, because the main implementer of we evaluated all the editorial concepts the problem number one today is the the Information Security Strategy is of the Moldovan televisions today, professional training of journalists: the Information and Security Service, we would find out that no one is those who come to the editorial staff its first implementation report being rebroadcasting; but if we do a technical should have a mentor; there is need for due only on 30 March 2020... It is audit and assessment, we’ll see that institutions of continuous education; true that out of the 26 objectives set there is a receiving antenna... training should be much more applied out in the Action Plan of the Strategy, and more thematic. Because today I 9 include the active involvement of How is the informational security cannot even name three economic or the civil society and media. And I outside the TV area ensured - if it is foreign policy journalists, to whom I hope that when the new Parliament ensured –which is, however, better can refer and with whom I can discuss becomes functional, the idea of this

working group will get back. Also security? If not, how can we at least it bluntly that we want something the donors will accept to make an mitigate these risks? What long or else. Personally, I will come up with effort in this regard. Regarding the short-term policies do we lack? some suggestions in the study which media sector it was probably the first is part of the policy evaluation in the time that everyone was invited at Compared with the Baltic States field of promoting media freedom the discussion table and despite the when it comes to the information and pluralism, which I’m carrying heated discussions we have achieved security, Moldova is at the level of -7, out together with several colleagues certain results. However, the problems -8. I mean, we can say that we have on the initiative of the Government. have not been exhausted yet. For not even started a serious process It is an extremely complex study, example, in the area of propaganda yet... We live with certain habits, we which will also contain a matrix some media institutions have found are talking about a tolerant society, with recommendations that address the solution of taking over the video when in fact, as I was saying above, absolutely all aspects of the media. by creating an allegedly local news, we are more of an ignorant society Starting from education, we continue but using the information broadcast in as a result of disinformation which with the continuous training, the Russia. We still have some shows that, is proliferated by both foreign and deontology, the sufficiency or the at least theoretically, are at odds with local media. To diminish these risks, insufficiency of the media effort, the Audiovisual Code... as a first step, we should start talking the civil society and the state, the about it. Is that a threat? If it is, why is normative framework, the economic Can you give an example of such?... it a threat? If there is no threat, why? framework, the development, the Nobody can say it today openly and information security ... We have There is a military programme on bring arguments which Russian media to create, once and for all, the one of the televisions. On others, institutions promote propaganda mechanisms in mass media that certain news and talk shows from and disinformation. Who are the could work in unison with the effort Russia are used to produce local news. politicians dealing with this and who of the media, civil society and society We have Sputnik which produces radio are the so-called experts? We have as a whole, and of the state within shows that it places at several local tens and hundreds of experts ... I have certain limits of action. Today, all the radio stations for a fee. And here I personally counted 150. And what mechanisms have derailed, because think the state should have a tougher are the topics? For the problem is not there is no consensus. They are all intervention. necessarily that we are indifferent. The pulling in different directions and flow of information, propaganda and there is no one to do the work. That’s To what extent does the Moldovan misinformation is simply so big that why I’m getting back to the idea of politics affect the information we are wallowing in the mud, thinking re-launching the Working Group, security? it’s normal as we’ve already got used which was a solution to the many to it. And we’re used to it just because problems. I know the donors’ effort The political class today is the best- the media works like a supermarket: are not unlimited, but I am confident selling commodity. This is confirmed what you put on the shelf, that’s what that when the state, the civil society, by the four surveys I am currently people buy. And we entered a very the media say: “We have this priority, studying for a research. poor-quality supermarket. The offer is please help us,” they will respond. It’s big, diverse, but it’s getting worse. like in the Bible: “Everyone who asks, receives.” It is important to know what We entered a very poor-quality It seems we are in a vicious circle, we want, what the priorities are and media supermarket especially because the political factor show cohesion. likes this bad merchandise on the Will we ever be able to say in shelves that we are all consuming... We thank you for the interview and today’s globalized world that we have hope to find the answer. managed to completely eliminate the Yes, but the mere fact that we are threat of information attacks and that complaining is not going to change Sorina Ștefârță we have fully ensured the information things. We as a society should say

Helga Maria Schmid Union is therefore investing in broader international cooperation and partnerships he predictions made last year with above all with NATO, the UN, and regional regard to the growing importance organisations such as the Africa Union T and ASEAN. Our trilateral EU-AU-UN of great power rivalries still rings in cooperation on common challenges such our ears. What is more, our strategic as migration illustrates how multilateral environment grows ever more solutions can contribute to greater safety, unpredictable. Today, major powers stability and prosperity. openly challenge the rules based international order and seek to promote For instance, as the UN IPCC Special alternative visions of a world divided Report on Global Warming warned us into spheres of influence. Geopolitical recently, there is an urgent need to act on rivalry stokes tensions and raise the climate change. This is the logic for the alarm bell of a new “proliferation age” EU’s tireless efforts to reach a successful that risk escalating into inadvertent Helga Maria Schmid is Secretary outcome at COP 24 in Katowice. The EU military confrontation. Climate change General of the European External will lead by example by turning its own is becoming an existential threat Action Service, and the article ambitious commitments for 2030 into while cyberspace and disinformation below was written for “The Security concrete action. This was made clear at the campaigns are the new weapons of the Time” on the eve of the Munich high-level event on Climate and Security 21st century. Security Conference this year. We hosted by the EU last June. are republishing it as a further Together and only proof that the world of today is The EU is strengthening the if we remain united interconnected, the globalization international security in its has removed both physical and neighbourhood and beyond For the European Union, the answer is mental borders, and that the big clear: these challenges can only be tackled challenges are more than common In the security sector, the European Union through a multilateral approach. Together so they concern us all. continues to assert its role as a security we have the tools and the political weight provider. Not only it is working internally to shape the future global order if we stay to intensify joint efforts to effectively fight united. This is why instead of retreating terrorism, hatred and violent extremism, from international cooperation and global the Union is engaged on the ground with partnerships, the EU is stepping up its 16 crisis management missions i.e. nearly commitment to address global challenges prosperous and secure world environment. 4000 men and women. From building together with its partners: this is true for Even more so when it is clear that no single capacities in Mali, Niger and Central the Paris agreement on climate change, country can address these challenges African Republic, to supporting security the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action alone. I am convinced this approach is the sector reform in Iraq, fighting piracy (JCPOA) on non-proliferation, the 2030 right one and the fact that demand for off the coast of Somalia or preventing Agenda for Sustainable Development, the European action from our partners has a resurgence of violence in Georgia, EU’s strategy for connectivity between Asia never been so high speaks for itself. the Union continues to strengthen and Europe or the reform of the WTO. international security in its neighbourhood At every given opportunity, the need and beyond. This is complemented by While these agreements are - in essence - to define common answers to common continued engagement in more than 40 hard to reach, we are convinced they are problems is not only highlighted but mediation activities across the world, the best way to ensure a more peaceful, translated into action. The European from Colombia to Yemen and Philippines,

and underpinned by financial assistance disinformation through the recently extra-territorial effects of sanctions as the EU remains the lead donor for adopted Action Plan on Disinformation. also challenge the Union’s capacity to development and humanitarian aid. follow through on our own political Security means also economy, commitments. In this context we are As Europe is taking more responsibility for technology, and innovation developing mechanisms that will assist, its own security, the debate on European protect and reassure economic actors to strategic autonomy has moved to the fore pursue legitimate business abroad. We also need to be extra vigilant and not without controversy. However, to preserve achievements on non- at its heart is a simple reasoning: when As Europeans we cannot afford to proliferation, such as the INF treaty needed, Europeans need to be able to waste time or to be less innovative or the nuclear deal with Iran, as the protect and defend European interests and than others. We need to modernise our stakes for our own security are simply values and have the capacity to act. We approaches and engage more actively too high. The starting point cannot be want to be able to cooperate with third with new actors at the intersection of to dismantle the current architecture countries on our own terms. technology and foreign and security and start from scratch. We Europeans policy. This is why the High Representative are working at all levels to promote the In this respect, we stepped up the launched the Global Tech panel, with the universalisation and implementation of development of joint military capabilities CEO of major Tech companies, in order existing agreements, such as the Nuclear through our “Permanent Structured to help ensure that international ethics Non-Proliferation Treaty or the Hague Cooperation” (PESCO), we will increase and rules can keep pace with human Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile joint investments through the European ingenuity. To harness these opportunities, Proliferation. We are also pushing for the Defence Fund, we are streamlining military we also must take the security implications Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty to come command structures (MPCC), and we seriously, hence the recent European into force which could play an important agreed a Compact to strengthen our Commission Communication on Artificial role as we work towards a complete, civilian crisis management. As such these Intelligence. verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation initiatives also contribute to strengthen of the DPRK. NATO’s European pillar and contribution to All in all, supporting rules-based collective defence. multilateralism and greater European Taking greater responsibility does not strategic autonomy are not contradictory stop at defence issues. Security today is Greater responsibility also includes beefing objectives. If we strengthen our resilience also about economic security. This notion up our own resilience and capacity in in the face of new risks, the European includes the strategic importance of the energy, space, infrastructure and other Union will play its part in reinvigorating the Euro and the need to ensure that the critical sectors. We Europeans cannot multilateral order and be reckoned as an single currency can play its full role on accept interference and destabilization assertive actor in a volatile world. the international scene. Promoting the through hybrid and cyber-attacks, Euro’s international role is part of Europe’s hence our on-going focus on reinforcing (This article originally appeared in the commitment to an open, multilateral cybersecurity capacities, improving newspaper “The Security Times”) and rules-based global economy. The the protection of data and containing

The opinions expressed in the newsletter are not necessarily those of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) or of the Foreign Policy Association (APE).

Foreign Policy Association (APE) is a non-governmental organization committed to supporting the integration of the Republic of Moldova into the European Union and facilitating the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict in the context of the country Europeanization. APE was established in fall 2003 by a group of well-known experts, public personalities and former senior officials and diplomats, all of them reunited by their commitment to contribute with their expertise and experience to formulating and promoting by the Republic of Moldova of a coherent, credible and efficient foreign policy.

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) is a German social democratic political foundation, whose purpose is to promote the principles and foundations of democracy, peace, international understanding and cooperation. FES fulfils its mandate in the spirit of social democracy, dedicating itself to the public debate and finding in a transparent

Monthly Bulletin, Nr. 3 (157),manner, april 2019 social democratic solutions to current and future problems of the society. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung has 64, Sciusev str. MD-2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, Tel-Fax: +373 22 21 09 86 Website: www.ape.md E-mail:been [email protected] active in the Republic of Moldova since October 2002.