Moldova & IMF IMF Activities Publications Press Releases


PREMIER TARLEV: BUREAUCRATIC HURDLES, NOT OUR
UNWILLINGNESS DELAYED ADOPTION OF LAWS DEMANDED BY IMF

Chisinau-02.08.2001/10:45:01/(BASA-economic) Bureaucratic hurdles,
not our unwillingness has delayed the adoption of laws demanded by
the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Premier Vasile Tarlev
told journalists late on Wednesday.

"There was not one moment when the government was thinking about
disruption of the ties with the IMF," said the Moldovan premier.

"People who think of isolation of such a small country as Moldova is
wrong... We strive for the European Union and cannot remain isolated
from the rest of the world," said the premier, adding that Moldova
has always had good relations with IMF and wanted to keep these
relations.

At the same time, Tarlev explained that he new government had to
withdraw some of the laws presented to the parliament by the former
government. Re-examination of those laws is another reason of delay,
he said.

The premier warned of sanctions to decision-makers who have delayed
the laws sought by the international lenders and criticised the
"third layer" of the executive power - heads of departments.

"I want a total discipline on behalf of official workers and those
who continue sleeping at work will be fired," he continued.

After the arrival of a new IMF mission in Moldova on July 25, the
government and the parliament immediately started the "series
production" of required laws in a desperate attempt to catch the
last train. The authorities approved the provisions of the
Moldova-IMF Memorandum on Economic and Financial Policies, signed in
December 2000, which had to be approved last March or June. In the
past two weeks, the government and parliament were seen busy
adopting laws on free enterprise zones, bankruptcy, fiscal
administration, inspection of imports prior to the delivery, and
extended the privatisation program.

The cabinet even had to meet on weekends to debate new laws. Last
Saturday, the ministers examined a law on declaration of incomes and
checkup of property owned by high ranking public figures and
medium-sized officials. This document was to be passed in the
legislature by the end of June, according to agreements with the
Fund.