MINELRES: US Congressmen Oppose Most Favored Nation status for Moldova (inter alia, because of situation of Roma)

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: Ionas Aurelian Rus <ionasrus@rci.rutgers.edu>


Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Washington, D.C. 20515
April 21, 2003

The Honorable Philip M. Crane
Chairman, Subcommittee on Trade
Committee on Ways and Means
1104 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Chairman:

Thank you for offering us the opportunity to submit comments to the
subcommittee regarding the extension of normal trade relations to the
Republic of Moldova. As members of the U.S. Commission on Security and
Cooperation in Europe, we wish to raise some specific areas of concern.
In keeping with the spirit of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment of the Trade
Act of 1974 which is meant to protect and promote human rights, we
believe the United States must continue to make human rights a key
component of the bilateral relationship with Moldova. With respect to
the freedom of emigration requirements under Jackson-Vanik, Moldova has
adopted statutory and administrative procedures that generally accord
its citizens the right to depart and return to the country freely.
However, the Moldovan Government should be encouraged to amend their law
which maintains certain restrictions for potential emigrants upon whom
close relatives are materially dependent.

Moldova continues to be a major source country for trafficked women to
Europe. The Moldovan Government, concerned NGOs and international
organizations are working to eradicate this plague, but such efforts
must be vigorously pursued and be given a very high priority. In
addition, a proposed draft law on "freedom of speech and religious
organizations" would limit religious freedom for minority faith
communities in Moldova by denying registration unless a burdensome
threshold concerning the length of time in existence and the number of
participants in the religious group is met.

Finally, we note recent reports prepared by the European Roma Rights
Center concerning discriminatory policies and practices by Moldovan
authorities toward the Romani minority. The Moldovan Government should
be encouraged to ensure that all its citizens are treated equally before
the law.

Mr. Chairman, we appreciate the opportunity to raise these issues with
you and request that these comments be taken into consideration, as well
as additional progress by Moldova on these issues, as you consider the
extension of normal trade relations to the Republic of Moldova.

With best wishes, we remain

Sincerely,

Benjamin L. Cardin
Commission Member
Christopher H. Smith
Co-Chairman