Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/24/2018 8:52:11 PM DEMOCRATIC PARTY m OF MOLDOVA PDM NEWSLETTER | APRIL 2018 Greetings from Chisinau, where we finally are starting to see spring weather. In the past month, I had the honor and pleasure of hosting U.S. Rep. Will Hurd of Texas here in Chisinau to discuss U.S.-Moldovan relations, regional security, Moldova's internal progress, and our ongoing push toward Western institutions. It was a great visit, and we hope to see more Western policymakers in the future so that they can see first-hand how the reforms we are making are leading us to a stronger democracy. At the same time, we continue to resist and deal with Russian pressure, and I encourage you to read the Newsweek op-ed by Speaker Andrian Candu about what the West can learn from a country like Moldova. Vladimir Plahotniuc Chairman Democratic Party of Moldova U.S. Rep. Will Hurd Visits Moldova mt L i Lltoraturd in llmba rus Page 1 of 4 Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/24/2018 8:52:11 PM Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/24/2018 8:52:11 PM U.S. Representative Will Hurd with Democratic Party leader Vlad Plahotniuc. (Hurd.house.gov) (Hurd.house.gov) On April 4, U.S. Representative Will Hurd visited Chisinau, Moldova for meetings with Moldovan Speaker of Parliament Andrian Candu, Foreign Minister Tudor Ulianovschi, and Democratic Party leader Vlad Plahotniuc. Participants affirmed the importance of current and future U.S.-Moldova bilateral cooperation and discussed a range of issues, including Moldovan efforts to fight corruption and promote security sector reforms. They also addressed the importance of Moldova’s progress towards integration with Europe and aligning reforms of Moldova’s institutions with international best practices. Candu: We Can Teach Trump How to Fight Putin's Russia (Newsweek) Moldovan Speaker of Parliament Andrian Candu wrote a Newsweek op­ ed on how America can look to Moldova when dealing with Russian interference in elections. Moldova's parliament has banned Russian propaganda and disinformation from certain Russian TV outlets over the Moldovan airwaves in order to root out Russia’s influence over Moldova's politics and people. Moldova and OSCE: Withdrawal of Russian Peacekeepers is a Priority Task (Eurasia Daily) Leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Moldova Vladimir Plahotniuc said that Chisinau would ask for support from international partners of Moldova on the withdrawal of the Russian peacekeepers from the region. Plahotniuc discussed the situation with Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in- Office for the Transnistrian Settlement Process Franco Frattini. IMF Staff Completes Review Visit to Moldova (International Monetary Fund) An International Monetary Fund staff team led by Ben Kelmanson visited Chisinau from March 15-27, and held discussions with Moldovan authorities on the third review under an IMF-supported economic program. Mr. Kelmanson praised Moldova's strong economic policies, financial stability, and projected economic growth of 3.8% in 2018. Moldova to Expel Three Russian Diplomats after Spy Poisoning (Reuters) Moldova asked three Russian diplomats to leave the country by the beginning of April, in solidarity with Britain after the poisoning of a former Russian spy on March 4. Moldova joins the United States and governments across Europe announcing plans to expel scores of Russian diplomats in retaliation for the attack. Moldova Jails Ex-deputy for Spying for Russia (Balkan Insight) Moldova courts jailed a former deputy, lurie Bolboceanu, for 14 Page 2 of 4 Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/24/2018 8:52:11 PM Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/24/2018 8:52:11 PM years, for spying for Russia. Bolboceanu was found guilty of passing classified information to Russia on the strategies behind major national legislative reforms. Moldova 2017 Jobless Rate Edges Down to 4.1% (SeeNews) Moldova's unemployment rate edged down to 4.1% in 2017 from 4.2% a year earlier, the statistics bureau reported. Pavel Filip in Kiev: Regional Security is Republic of Moldova's Priority MlM i Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip speaks at the Security Forum in Kiev. (Publika.md) (Publika) Prime Minister Pavel Filip, who participated at the Security Forum held in Kiev in April, declared that regional security is the Republic of Moldova's priority. He advocated for solidarity and commitment to managing crisis and threats and ensure stability in Eastern Europe. Ukraine Ratifies Agreement with Moldova on Joint Border Control (Interfax-Ukraine) Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has met with Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip and signed the law on the ratification of the agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of Moldova on the joint control of individuals, vehicles, goods and items at joint border crossing points through the Ukrainian-Moldovan state border. Romania's Transaaz Buys Moldova's Vestmoldtransgaz (SeeNews) Romanian gas transmission company Transgaz said it has signed a contract for the acquisition of its state-owned Moldovan peer Vestmoldtransgaz for Page 3 of 4 Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/24/2018 8:52:11 PM Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/24/2018 8:52:11 PM 180.2 million Moldovan lei ($10.9 million/8.8 million euro). Noroc (Cheers) for Moldovan Wine (The Economist) The Moldovan wine industry has transformed itself over the past few decades from Moldova's wineries being a main supplier to Russia, to now redirecting most of their sales to the EU. The Moldovans’ hard work is paying off, as in 2017 exports were 19.4% higher than in 2015. Moldova Next in Line to Host World Blockchain Summit (CryptoVest) Moldova will host its first major blockchain and cryptocurrency event, welcoming international experts to the World Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Summit in Chisinau, the capital city of Moldova, on May 11. Siemens to Rehab 14 Power Transformation Stations in Moldova (Business Review) Engineering company Siemens owns the contract for the rehabilitation of 14 medium voltage transformation stations in the Republic of Moldova which are owned by Moldelectrica. The investment project is financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and upgrade works are slated to start in the second quarter of this year and will last for two years. This material is distributed by Cogent Strategies on behalf of the Democratic Party of Moldova. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Unsubscribe Page 4 of 4 Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/24/2018 8:52:11 PM.