Evidence of meeting #102 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chinese.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Excellency Tudor Ulianovschi  Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova
Ivan Krulko  Co-Chair of Ukraine-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group, Parliament of Ukraine (Verkhovna Rada)
Lobsang Sangay  Sikyong, Central Tibetan Administration

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair (Hon. Robert Nault (Kenora, Lib.)) Liberal Bob Nault

Welcome to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), we have this meeting with a delegation from Moldova.

It's my pleasure to welcome His Excellency Tudor Ulianovschi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova, to the committee. Also at the table with the minister is Igor Bodiu, head of the American division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration. Of course, we have our good friend the ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Canada, Her Excellency Ala Beleavschi.

Welcome to the committee, everybody.

One of the things we have been doing, Minister, is inviting foreign ministers and dignitaries to the foreign affairs committee. It gives us a direct opportunity to allow you, on behalf of Moldova, to let Canadians know your priorities and, obviously, the connection to Canada as a nation.

It's our pleasure to welcome you.

Colleagues, we have a pretty tight schedule this afternoon, as the minister has other engagements that need to be dealt with, so we'll move this along as precisely as your chair can. Obviously, we will leave time for questions from you as members.

Before that, we would like the minister to take the floor with some opening comments; we'll do that now.

Minister, the floor is yours.

3:35 p.m.

His Excellency Tudor Ulianovschi Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova

Thank you so much.

Mr. Chair, vice-chairs, members of the committee, ladies and gentlemen, I am truly honoured to speak today before this esteemed committee, the foreign affairs committee, which is very dear to any minister of foreign affairs.

Let me first and foremost express my sincere gratitude to Chairman Robert Nault for the opportunity to be here today and for his personal commitment to support young democracies faced with multifarious challenges in their pursuit of an independent path, free of external coercion and pressure. Who would have thought that almost three decades ago since gaining their independence, some of these countries would still have to struggle for their territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty, and that instead of focusing on economic transformations and building functional democracies, they still continue to be exposed to multiple threats to their sovereignty, independence and, most importantly, their national security? I am therefore pleased to be here today to share with you some of my thoughts about the security landscape in our region and the security challenges that my country, the Republic of Moldova, is facing today.

We are all witnessing the complexity of contemporary change. The current security environment is influenced by continuous transformations that generate new risks and also new threats. These challenges push for redefining a traditional concept of security, while the security agenda must be focused on new ways of addressing asymmetric and non-conventional threats that require new types of international and regional solidarity.

Wedged between Romania and Ukraine, and lying in the lowlands of southeastern Europe, my country's geographical position was thought to represent a bridge between the west and the east, yet the outbreak some 26 to 27 years ago of an armed conflict in the eastern region of Moldova, the Transnistria region of the Republic of Moldova, posed a serious threat to both national and regional security. This threat is being fuelled by the outbreak, almost simultaneously, of other conflicts throughout most of the former Soviet republics, the Ukraine being the most recent one.

Today the breakaway region of Transnistria is home to about 1,400 Russian troops and more than 20,000 tonnes of ammunition, most of which date back to the Second World War. The outbreak of the conflict and the foreign military presence in the territory of my country continuously generates tensions, and as such poses a risk of escalating confrontation. Foreign military presence constitutes a serious obstacle to a peaceful resolution of the conflict and the territorial integrity of my country, as it contributes to the preservation of the conflict situation by encouraging the destructive forces to keep on promoting their secessionist plans.

Furthermore, the Transnistrian conflict continues to impact negatively Moldova's overall political, economic, and democratic development. In addition, a general state of uncertainty as to what the country's future would be like generates distrust of large groups of the population and the democratic transformations they have been aspiring to. It polarizes the society and forces an outflow of the population from my country.

Over the last few years, the Russian Federation's operational group has intensified its military exercises, conducted jointly with the Transnistrian paramilitary forces, in blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement signed in 1992. Besides that, the Russian Federation continues to enlist recruits from among the local population into its army, and has launched a massive campaign of handing out Russian passports to the region's population in its attempt to stretch out abroad the so-called Russian world.

The Moldovan government has consistently advocated for an unconditional and complete withdrawal of Russian troops from our territory, as their stationing is not based on any legal framework or any consent of the host country. Despite the fact that the Russian Federation has repeatedly committed itself to withdrawing its troops from this region and respecting Moldova's sovereignty and territorial integrity, it has constantly defied common sense.

It is therefore my particular pleasure to voice today from this important rostrum my government's great appreciation of the solidarity Canada has shown towards Moldova's endeavours to promote, for the first time in our independence history, a UN General Assembly resolution on the complete and unconditional withdrawal of foreign military forces from the national territory of the Republic of Moldova.

Canada has taken a decision to co-sponsor our resolution, thus becoming the first country in the world to do so. This move not only shows Canada's consistent and unequivocal stance on the importance of strictly abiding by the principles of international law, of the Charter of the United Nations, and of the rules-based world order, but we also see much symbolism in this decision. A higher degree of political dialogue has developed between Moldova and Canada.

Another important milestone achieved in our co-operation is about to occur today in the upcoming signing of the bilateral agreement for the promotion and protection of investment within the Republic of Moldova and Canada, as well as a joint declaration on progressive and inclusive trade and investment. It will send a strong signal to both of our business communities about the openness and guarantees of our markets for mutual and beneficial co-operation.

It is important to remain committed to the reform agenda undertaken by my country under the association agreement signed with the European Union in 2014. The Moldovan government is well aware of the importance of domestic reforms.

I see here two most critical strategic goals. One is a profound systemic modernization of the country by embracing democratic values, and ensuring the rule of law and an independent judiciary. The other is encouraging free entrepreneurship; supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises; and continuously investing in training, research and development, and education as key factors in sustainable economic growth.

Concurrently, restoring mutual trust between both banks of the Dniester River, showing the population of the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova the benefits of a closer co-operation with Europe, combined with a clear strategic direction of development and a European integration perspective for the country can bring those deliverables that are so much needed in the society.

With the Russian troops stationed in the Transnistrian region, which stretches over 400 kilometres along the western border of Ukraine and Moldova, and having an ongoing conflict in the Ukraine's eastern region of Donbass, the security and stability of both Moldova and Ukraine are much intertwined.

It is therefore of paramount importance for the two neighbouring countries to work closely towards more efficiently addressing these threats. The Moldovan government continues to support Ukraine in its effort to overcome the crisis in Donbass and to solve the Crimean problem through political and diplomatic means in order to restore peace and regain Ukraine's full sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Republic of Moldova condemned the annexation of the Crimea by the Russian Federation, and supports Ukraine's efforts to resolve the separatist conflict in Donbass based on the Minsk accords. A good example of such co-operation is the joint control of the Transnistrian segment of the Moldovan-Ukrainian border crossing point launched last July. In the near future, we intend to move to the final stage of taking full de facto control over the common border.

It was last Saturday that the parliaments of Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova, together with the speakers, created a joint parliamentary assembly. A new and only platform was called to unite our forces to collectively address common threats to national and regional security, as well as to strengthen co-operation and further advance the reform agendas.

Having a more advanced dialogue with the European Union through the implementation of the association agreements, these three countries—Moldova, Ukraine, and Georgia—aspire to full-fledged membership of the European Union. As in the case of Georgia and Ukraine, Moldova has already made its strategic choice: European integration. This is not merely an option for our country, it is a vital necessity. We hope that in this important, and without exaggeration, crucial time for our countries, our partners, and friends—the European Union, Canada, and the U.S.—will show their solidarity and support.

We therefore warmly welcome recent signals from Canada about its openness to viewing our three countries through a single regional lens and to adopting, accordingly, a common regional approach. I wish to assure you of my government's willingness and full commitment to engage more actively together with you in this important endeavour.

I should stop here to allow for more time for our communication.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bob Nault

Thank you, Mr. Ulianovschi.

I'm going to start right off the bat with Mr. O'Toole, please.

June 12th, 2018 / 3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Erin O'Toole Conservative Durham, ON

Thank you very much, Minister. Welcome to Canada. Thank you for spending some time with our committee. I'm the vice-chair of the committee and the Conservative Party shadow minister for foreign affairs.

What is interesting is that our committee met with a delegation from Ukraine this morning, and many of the challenges with respect to Russian aggression—a frozen conflict, some of the need to further stabilize democratic institutions, and a free enterprise environment—are the same, except for one thing that Ukraine is quite clear about, and that is their desire to join NATO.

In your case, I know that Moldova is part of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council, but in recent years you have committed troops to NATO-led engagements in Kosovo and elsewhere. Where would you like to see your country's plans with respect to joining the NATO alliance?

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bob Nault

Go ahead, Minister.

3:50 p.m.

Tudor Ulianovschi

Thank you so much, Mr. Vice-Chair, for drawing this line of similarity between Moldova and Ukraine.

According to our constitution, Moldova cannot join a military alliance, including NATO. However, we have excellent co-operation between the Republic of Moldova and NATO. A year and a half ago we opened a NATO liaison office for the first time in Chisinau, the capital of the Republic of Moldova.

Even though there was some political debate about a neutral country having a NATO liaison office, this initiative was very strongly supported by my ministry, the government, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova. At this point there are no more debates, and the activity, the raising of awareness about the extraordinary co-operation we've have so far, and the potential to expand it, are extremely positive.

As you mentioned, Mr. Vice-Chair, the Republic of Moldova has been actively participating in peacekeeping operations. We have a special battalion at the Ministry of Defense, the 22nd battalion, for peacekeeping operations. And by the way, women and men are members of the battalion. I am a strong believer in a gender-balanced approach, including in peacekeeping operations.

We have expressed our interest in further participating in other peacekeeping operations. The upcoming one I think is in Mali, and I have had extensive conversations with our Minister of Defense to participate in Mali.

The priorities for the MOD in the Republic of Moldova in connection with NATO as an organization, but also with its member states, is to strengthen the capacity of the military in the Republic of Moldova to be more specialized, to be seamlessly integrated into NATO standards. That is why in the recent visit by the Minister of Defence of Romania, a neighbouring country of the Republic of Moldova and a NATO member, a decision was taken that Moldovan troops would participate in a joint Moldovan-Romanian battalion in peacekeeping operations as well. The target is to increase the standards of operations and to integrate the SOPs preparation level of the Moldovan military.

On the other hand, it is also the priority right now to strengthen the capacity of the Moldovan military in the cybersecurity field, and to work with centres of excellence in Italy, and also in Riga, if I'm not mistaken. The purpose is to be able to respond to the new security threats and challenges, including elements of hybrid war techniques, and that includes cybersecurity because Moldova is exposed to those threats, being one of the top 10 or top 12 countries in the world with the fastest Internet speed and widespread Internet usage. We need to have these certain elements to prevent a cyber-attack.

3:55 p.m.

Conservative

Erin O'Toole Conservative Durham, ON

Do I have any time?

3:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bob Nault

Shorter answers, shorter questions....

3:55 p.m.

Conservative

Erin O'Toole Conservative Durham, ON

I found that very interesting, Minister. Thank you very much for your comments on the constitutional neutrality.

When you deploy the 22nd battalion in a NATO-led effort, I guess that would be a result of votes in your national assembly justifying the use of troops. If it's a NATO-led mission and Moldova is neutral, how do you square the circle between your constitutional requirements and a parliamentary role over defence oversight?

3:55 p.m.

Tudor Ulianovschi

The Moldovan parliament supports the participation of Moldovan troops in peacekeeping operations in non-military actions, so there is full support for MOD from the parliament and the relevant committees. We have not registered any disagreement with relation to Moldovan neutrality. We don't think this contradicts neutrality. On the contrary, this works to strengthen the capacity of the Moldovan military.

3:55 p.m.

Conservative

Erin O'Toole Conservative Durham, ON

Thank you.

3:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bob Nault

Mr. Wrzesnewskyj, please.

3:55 p.m.

Liberal

Borys Wrzesnewskyj Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON

Thank you, Chair.

Just before I start I'll pass the floor to Ms. Vandenbeld.

3:55 p.m.

Liberal

Anita Vandenbeld Liberal Ottawa West—Nepean, ON

Yes, thank you.

Thank you very much, Minister, for being here, and welcome again to the ambassador, who's no stranger to our Parliament.

Since your independence, the international community, Canada included, has provided technical assistance in terms of your transition to democracy. In 2014, Canada sent 20 election monitors through OSCE. We've also provided expertise in terms of budget accountability, and in a number of other areas. It's actually quite impressive how far Moldova has come in terms of its democratic transition.

There's one area I want to ask you about. We have just returned from question period in the House of Commons, and our Prime Minister answered all of the leaders' questions. On Wednesdays, in fact, he answers all of the questions in a designated Prime Minister's question period. Is there any consideration of having a similar kind of thing in the Moldovan parliament?

3:55 p.m.

Tudor Ulianovschi

Thank you for the question.

Do you mean inviting the Prime Minister, or—?

3:55 p.m.

Liberal

Anita Vandenbeld Liberal Ottawa West—Nepean, ON

For a designated Prime Minister's question period in parliament?

3:55 p.m.

Tudor Ulianovschi

Every week, we have a so-called government hour. Based on the requests of MPs, certain ministers will come, depending on the topic, and, if necessary, the Prime minister will also participate. For example, recently, following the meeting May 3 meeting of the EU-Moldova Association Council, the Prime Minister was invited by a parliamentary group to report on the decisions and follow up on that meeting.

We are no strangers to this practice. On the contrary, this is being applied in Moldova.

3:55 p.m.

Liberal

Anita Vandenbeld Liberal Ottawa West—Nepean, ON

Thank you.

3:55 p.m.

Liberal

Borys Wrzesnewskyj Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON

Minister, it's a tremendous pleasure to see you and to have you come to Canada, and to speak about Moldova. It's an amazing situation.

Today the world talks about hybrid warfare. We realize that for the North Atlantic alliance, Russia poses the most significant of threats.

You've been living all of this for over a quarter of a century. These were the testing grounds in many ways for future exploits of the Kremlin, and it's fascinating that you have survived. I think I speak on behalf of everyone when I offer you our congratulations on being able to maintain a democratic, rule of law, free enterprise state, of course with tremendous difficulty, and not without flaws. However, when you compare the situation in Moldova with the current situation in Transnistria, Moldova has democratic values, and Transnistria is a gangster state. Moldova has the rule of law. In Transnistria, the judiciary is used as a weapon of suppression.

You talked about the entrepreneurship in Moldova. Transnistria is a black hole in Europe. With the laundering through Transnistrian banks of monies, the business of drug trafficking in Europe, the business of arms trafficking, and worse, sexual trafficking, human trafficking, Transnistria has become a black hole on the European continent when it comes to these particular issues.

How can we further strengthen the borders around Moldova—because you spoke of that—but also, how can we strengthen the sectors to prevent the money laundering of this gangster state?

4 p.m.

Tudor Ulianovschi

Thank you for expressing your view.

The Transnistria region is part of the Republic of Moldova because Moldova is a unitary sovereign state. No country in the world recognizes the statehood or the independence of this secessionist region. On the contrary, we now have excellent co-operation with Ukrainian border police, the intelligence community, and colleagues working in law enforcement with a view to strengthening full control over the entire border between the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, which includes the 440 kilometres of the Transnistria region's border with Ukraine.

We have set up the so-called EUBAM, European Union Border Assistance Mission, in which I'm sure Canadian officers participate as well. Canada has provided assistance to Moldova on border security, border police, using former border guards. I would encourage more technical assistance being provided for equipment or technical materials, but also training of border police to ensure that the border between Moldova and Ukraine is secure and transparent.

You mentioned the trafficking of persons. I am the chair of the national committee on fighting trafficking of persons. That's a top priority for us. To prevent that we need to have full control of our borders. Targeted assistance for border control is extremely important.

The Transnistria region of Moldova benefits from every international agreement that the Moldovan government takes part in. For example, with EU integration, we have the deep and comprehensive free trade agreement and are visa free. Automatically these advantages and free trade are offered to the businesses in Transnistria. Now we have a situation where 78% of the businesses from the Transnistria region of Moldova export to the EU. It's soft power; it's opening the borders and making people and businesses in this region understand that they are better off in united Moldova, and that they will benefit economically and socially and democratically by being part of Moldova and by engaging Europe and the west as well.

You referred to hybrid warfare. Indeed, we have survived, and I think we have become stronger, at least mentally and in terms of maturity, by being fully aware of the fact that there is foreign interference in our elections, our media, our social media, and other areas as well. We are ready to engage with other western colleagues and to share the lessons learned because, unfortunately, we have been exposed to that. At this moment, we also need support to be able to respond to the new challenges of cybersecurity and cyber-warfare because this requires some new technologies as well.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bob Nault

Thank you, Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Wrzesnewskyj.

We're going to Madame Laverdière, s'il vous plaît.

4:05 p.m.

NDP

Hélène Laverdière NDP Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, sir.

4:05 p.m.

H.E. Tudor Ulianovschi

You may speak French if you wish.

4:05 p.m.

NDP

Hélène Laverdière NDP Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC

Okay. That's wonderful.

4:05 p.m.

H.E. Tudor Ulianovschi

I will still answer in English though, if you don't mind.