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The Centrist Union of Moldova (CUM) launched on February 14 an appeal to the citizens who live in Transnistria regarding the March 6, 2005 parliamentary elections. The appeal reads the following: “Evolution of relations between Chisinau and Tiraspol regarding the Transnistrian settlement has entered an impasse. In spite of promises made by the Communist government in 2001 regarding the territorial reintegration of Moldova «within maximum six months,» we found ourselves in 2005 in a worse confusion than at the beginning of negotiations with the authorities of the self-proclaimed Transnistrian republic.

Appreciating objectively and in entire complexity the inheritance of the negotiation process, CUM believes that we must begin the settlement of the conflict with what we can do rather than with what we want. We regard as opportune the approach of insurance of independence and territorial integrity through awarding of a status of autonomy to settlements on the left bank of the Dniester river, including of the status of subject of an eventual federal state (constitutional-federative asymmetrical federation), which would be ensured with internal constitutional guarantees and international political, juridical and military guarantees. The price of this status — the European integration of Moldova, a process and goal followed by disappearance of administrative borders and setup of the European citizenship.

CUM holds a well-prepared programme which will allow us to restart a dignified and productive dialogue with citizens and authorities of Transnistria, without harming the interests of the state and replying to legitimate interests of both banks.”

The Democratic Moldova Bloc (DMB) held a news conference and invited “all the democratic forces in the country to make common cause in order to defend the democratic norms and electoral standards in Moldova. There is enough evidence that the ongoing electoral campaign is wrong and unfair, with abuses of the central authorities, said DMB chairman Serafim Urechean. He underlined that this thing endangers Moldova to be excluded from the democratic community of Europe, with all related consequences.

Mr.Urechean argued the motivation of appeal through the incompetent and corrupt nature of the acting government. He provided evidence, including records of a recent conference, when 24 judges said that they were told to give bribes in exchange for their confirmation in offices bychief of state. Namely this evidence of doubtful affairs of Communists and losses suffered by country due to the acting government have determined Mr. Voronin not to take part in live debates when I invited him, Mr.Urechean said. The DMB political leader noted that the acting administration of the country is losing any credibility regarding its pro-European orientation after the shocking revelations of judges.

Also, DMB unveiled the Project 2010 — Concept regarding the future European integration programme of the country. This project is being developed, as Moldova lost four years and no day must be lost in continuation. The essence of the DMB project regarding the European integration focuses on change and modernization of the country, first of all of the government, as well as concentration of all reforms after March 6, 2005 on the European standards.”

Also, DMB made public statistics on number of appeals and requests received by the juridical department of DMB — a total of 152 requests (and this figure coincides with the number of nongovernmental organisations which are part of Coalition-2005 and perhaps the Communist Party of Moldova (CPRM) could base thus its accusation that Coalition-2005 serves BMD): 62 appeals to electoral bodies; 85 appeals to electoral bodies, audiovisual institutions, the Interior Ministry, Prosecutor-General’s Office; five suing appeals.

The DMB leader said that he does not warm the initiative of the Christian Democratic People’s Party (CDPP) to boycott the presidential elections after the parliamentary polls in order to provoke early parliamentary elections.

The secretary of the PCRM Central Committee told a press conference that “the electoral campaign takes place in a normal atmosphere.” “International observers widely monitor the elections in Moldova for the first time, at the request of PCRM. Insinuations regarding the PCRM’s intention to falsify the elections are part of a well-prepared scenario. Even the monitoring of Coalition-2005 is part of the same scenario. However, the opposition has only money and it is short of other capacities and tools to organise a revolution. This doubtful scenario staged by opposition will have a null result… PCRM does not use the administrative resources. Three deputy premiers, Vasile Iovv, Dmitri Todoroglo and Valerian Cristea, who visit settlements and organise meetings with electors relieved themselves from offices and have been obliged not to use the service cars anymore. They travel to territory by rented cars. At the same time, Dumitru Braghis and Serafim Urechean always use the service cars and it is unclear why Coalition-2005 neither takes this into account, nor condemns these facts… Certain opposition mayors often try to baffle the meetings with electors… Vladimir Braga, candidate on the list of the Democratic Moldova Bloc, uses the administrative resources for electoral purposes… We instructed the mayors elected in 2003 on behalf of PCRM to offer equal conditions to all electoral competitors,” Mr.Stepaniuc was quoted as saying by news agency Moldpres.

Indeed, international institutions monitored all the eight electoral campaigns held after Moldova gained its independence. The main institution specialized in monitoring of elections, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), monitored six out of eight campaigns. The Parliamentary Assembly of the North-Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the Council of Europe monitored the electoral campaigns in 1994 and 1999.

Mr. Stepaniuc did not say when the PCRM leaders gave up the service transport: before or after publication of reports of Coalition-2005. Asked if he is ready for a meeting with members of Coalition-2005 to openly discuss the accusations against this organisation in presence of journalists, Mr. Stepaniuc refused the proposition.

The Social Democratic Party of Moldova (PSDM) “called again on the Central Election Commission (CEC), civil society and international organisations in Chisinau to take a firm attitude towards how the broadcasting company TeleRadio-Moldova continues to discriminate the electoral competitors participating in the campaign for parliamentary elections.

PSDM held a news conference on February 14, 2005 and replied to a statement by PCRM chairman V. Voronin regarding the electoral campaign and «passivity» of opposition electoral candidates. However, the public television Moldova-1 did not broadcast any reportage from the conference which provided concrete examples when the access of PSDM to electors via TV channels was blocked and showed the cynicism of the chief of state who used his authority and deprived the opposition electoral competitors of possibility to appear on television.

PSDM notified again the international organisations that the results of the March 6 parliamentary scrutiny are already false because of the unfair conditions faced by electoral competitors and obstruction of access to elector.”

CEC decided to open polling stations in all diplomatic missions and consular offices of Moldova.

Voting abroad and how citizens who live in Transnistria and students will cast their ballots remain a very sensible topic.

The Federation of Organisations of Students and Youth (FOST) held a news conference and accused the police of intimidation of students who attended a protest march. FOST reiterated its dissatisfaction that CEC “did not reconsider yet its decision on how students will cast their ballots and refused to open polling stations in educational institutions” (based on a news by BASA-Press).