STUDIA UNIVERSITATIS MOLDAVIAE, 2014, nr.3(73) Seria “{tiin\e sociale” ISSN 1814-3199, ISSN online 2345-1017, p.43-49 THE EVOLUTION OF REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA RELATIONS WITH ROMANIA (1991–2013) Svetlana CEBOTARI, Cristina EJOVA Moldova State University In this article the authors comprehensively analyze the evolution of the bilateral relations between Romania and Moldova. Relations between Romania and Moldova, two sovereign and independent states, have a privileged, particular character, deriving from the community of people, culture, language and national history. The currently existence of the two separate Romanian states instead of one as a whole, can be explained by the political history of the twentieth century, through the international situation that has been created both after the USSR collapse and the socialist camp, and by interests of modern great powers Keywords: foreign policy, international relations, regionalism, security, national interest, regional integration. EVOLUŢIA RELAŢIILOR REPUBLICII MOLDOVA CU ROMÂNIA (1991-2013) În acest articol autorii analizează evoluţia multiaspectuală a relaţiilor bilaterale ale Republicii Moldova cu România. Relaţiile dintre România şi Republica Moldova, două state suverane şi independente, au un caracter privilegiat, special, decurgând din comunitatea de neam, cultură, limbă şi istorie naţională. Existenţa la momentul actual a două state româ- neşti separate în loc de unul întregit poate fi explicată prin istoria politică a secolului XX, prin conjunctura internaţiona- lă care s-a creat odată cu dezmembrarea URSS şi cu prăbuşirea lagărului socialist, precum şi prin interesele unor mari puteri contemporane. Cuvinte-cheie: politică externă, relaţii internaţionale, regionalism, securitate, interes naţional, integrare regională. Relations between Romania and Moldova, two sovereign and independent states, have a privileged, parti- cular character, deriving from the community of people, culture, language and national history. The currently existence of two separate Romanian states instead of one as a whole, can be explained by the political history of the twentieth century, through international situation that has been created both after the USSR collapse and the socialist camp, and by the interests of modern great powers [10, p.42]. Lately relations between Romania and Moldova, being more than a decade on the outskirts of policy con- cerns and international diplomacy, become the subject of increased attention This happens also because both Romania, and Moldova were in the past few years, each separately, ones of particular interest due to events such as: Romania's accession to NATO, relations of Romania and the Republic of Moldova with the enlarged Europe, and, of course because of accelerated internationalization of the Transnistrian problem. Undoubted- ly, this increasing interest in the two countries was due to regional conjuncture, or, the South Eastern Europe as a whole was a scene of action with global resonance in the last years of the second millennium and the early years of the third millennium [14, p.127]. Thus, in the context of the new created conditions, the Moldovan-Romanian relations can be examined from two perspectives: from the perspective of Romania's interest to create a zone of security and stability on the eastern border, and from the perspective of the national interests of the Republic of Moldova to join the EU. For a better understanding of this phenomenon, as well as the process of evolution of Moldovan-Romanian relations policy it is needed to take a cursory look on how the relations between the two countries were con- figured. Romania was the first country that recognized the Republic of Moldova, after its state independence proclamation on August 27, 1991 [1, p.68-69]. From the Romanian government declaration, made on that occasion, it was clear that, according to the authorities from Bucharest, Moldova's independence was consi- dered a form of emancipation from tutelage of Moscow and a first step towards reunification with Romania. Concerning the Moldovan-Romanian political relations, we can say that the main lines are exposed in two basic documents: Concept of Foreign Policy of Moldova in 1995 and the Program "Foreign policy and pro- motion of real Romania image". If we examine the first document one of the main directions of the Moldova foreign policy refers to multilateral cooperation with Romania [2]. Analyzing the second document, we can say that in that Chapter 11.2.4 referring to "Enhancing bilateral relations" it is stipulated that the Government will seek to prioritize development with dynamism and pragmatism special and privileged relations between 43 STUDIA UNIVERSITATIS MOLDAVIAE, 2014, nr.3(73) Seria “{tiin\e sociale” ISSN 1814-3199, ISSN online 2345-1017, p.43-49 Romania and Moldova, on the identity of language, culture and history through the development of com- plementary economic areas, supporting investment flows in Moldova, continuing direct economic support, assistance to diversify energy resources available to the Republic of Moldova to raise the country's energy independence, supporting the admission of the Republic of Moldova in the Stability Pact in South East Europe, supporting European projects of regional and sub- regional cooperation that Moldova could par- ticipate [11]. Retrospectively analyzing the formal relations between Chisinau and Bucharest during the period of in- dependence and so far, we find that they have evolved sinus [5, p.368], ranging from excitement, enthusi- asm, the offered military assistance in 1992, during military actions from the left bank of Dniester River, to a tension situation, of public accusations, which had negative effect on both states. Through these cases there are noted, on the one hand, certain statements of the Romanian Parliament and Government, which put into question the independence and security of the Republic of Moldova, and, on the other hand, the political decisions of the authorities in Chisinau, which affected the neighbour state. Only the results of the 1998 parliamentary elections and the formation of a democratic and reformist ma- jority in Chisinau, with taking the power of new forces interested in making serious reforms to modernize the country, it was possible to move from declarations to pragmatic relations, including adjusting foreign policy priorities. It was declared bluntly that the EU integration is a key priority of national interests abroad. These new elements Moldovan on political scene, which had a special character, according to the traditions of friendship and good neighbourliness, had a beneficial impact on relations with Bucharest, where the new Moldovan authorities understood very well the importance of close cooperation with Romania. It was inten- sified the dialogue at presidents, prime ministers, ministers’ level and the statements were replaced with con- crete actions. Between 30 to 31 August 1999, Mr. Ion Sturza, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova at that time, following his official visit to Romania at the invitation of his counterpart Mr. Vasile Radu said that Romania would become a core provider of Moldova not only regarding electricity, but also oil products. Also, the head of Government from Chisinau wanted to clarify that in Moldova there were political conditions for good relations with Romania, moreover, within the government program of his Cabinet, the Moldovan-Romanian relations were mentioned as priorities. As a result of this visit it was found the strengthening of good communication between the two countries' prime ministers, both insisting on institutionalizing of further meetings character. Also, for the first time it was publicly announced the Moldovan desire to have as main electricity provider a neighbouring state - Romania, and this message has taken a serious political connotation. Based on priority quality of relations bet- ween Moldova and Romania, the parties considered necessary a strict monitoring, within the Government of all bilateral activities. In this way, it would increase the accountability of those involved in project implementation and would increase the level and effectiveness of cooperation [15, p.122]. To strengthen cooperation between Romania and Moldova including Ukraine, two Euro-regions were created. The "Lower Danube" was established on August 14, 1998 and the "Upper Prut" was founded on September 22, 2000. The cooperation in Euro-region "Upper Prut", whose members are Edinet and Balti in Moldova, Botosani and Suceava in Romania and Chernivtsi region in Ukraine, is currently focused on the implementation of concrete projects and programs crossing line simplification state border and customs pro- cedures control for citizens and economic agents who operate within the Euro-region. In the Euro-region there are also addressed issues related to opening new border crossings and modernization of existing ones, expanding exchanges and cooperation mechanisms to align the normative-legal base of the three states to the European requirements in regional policy domain, self and interregional cooperation. The Euro-region “Lower Danube” in which activity Galati, Braila and Tulcea in Romania, Cahul in Moldova and Odessa region in Ukraine are involved is also facing joint projects between the three partner countries. In this respect, international folklore festivals for children, scientific sessions in archeological domain, school contests, exhibitions, summer camps, joint expert meetings, draft environmental cooperation