Received by Registration Unit 02/08/2018 10:55:36 AM From: Democratic. Party of Moldova Sent: Wednesday, February 7, 2018 12:36 PM Subject: News from the Democratic Party of Moldova, February 2018 View this e-mail in _ou?r broWser DEMOCRATIC PARTY 0i:- MOLDOVA H. I D, IL. XIV 7:38:32' 77:37: '17.??735 NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2018 Happy New Year! 2018 Will be a momentous year for Moldova with Parliamentary elections on the horizon in November. This political test is an opportunity to cement the Western Orientation of. our country and af?rm the path we have taken to implement reform and improve our economy. We are grateful for the continued support we've received from the United States, Europe. and the multilateral institutions, and we hope you will stand with us during this pivotal electoral campaign. Russia has already begun its concerted effort to influence our elections, and we are ?ghting back, as you will see in some of the stories below. Vladimir Plahotniuc Chairman Democratic Party of Moldova Chairman _Plahotri'uc' First interview of Election Year Vladimir Plahotmuc sits for his first interview of 2018. (Deschide. ind) (Descnidemd) in a wide-ranging interview with the Moldovan news outlet Deschide. PDM Chairman Vladimir Plalhotniuc addressed Russia's efforts against him, the PDM's electoral Received by Registration Unit 02/08/2018 10:55:36 AM Received by Registration Unit 02/08/2018 10:55:36 AM strategy for 2018, and the government's ?ght against corruption. Pavel Filip's Government: Years Filled with Changes for Republic of Moldova . (Publikamd) Since 2016. when he took of?ce as prime minister, Pavel Filip has overseen an extraordinary expansion of Moldova' 5 economy and its Westward ambition including nearly 40% economic growth, ?nancing agreements with the lntemational Monetary Fund an'd the - European Union, and thinning the number of government ministries West and East Struggle to Exist Again in Moldova' 5 Election (Pub/ika. md) In an interview with the Latvian newspaper Latvijas Avise, Moldovan Speaker of - Parliament Andrian Candu said he hoped Moldovan citizens will choose pro? European candidates In 2018. He also decried Russia's disinformatibn attempts against Moldova Moldovan Leader's Powers SUspended to Enact TV Curbs (Reuters) A constitutional spurt temporarily suspended the powers of Moldova's president Igor Dodon on Friday, paving the way for parliament to bypass his veto and enact a law that Would restrict RuSsian TV broadcasts as foreign propaganda. . Moldovan Parliament Speaker Passes Law Against Russian Propaganda (Radio Free Europe) Speaker Candu signed legislation appointing appointing .seven-new? government ministers along with aglaw that bans Russian "media propaganda." This law effectively bans Russian television programs on neWs, politics, and military in Moldova. Moldova MPs Accuse Russia of Interference (Balkan Insight) The ruling party of Moldova condemned defamatory declarations by Russian of?cials towards Moldova alleged harassment of Moldovan officials and the ilegal engagement in Moldova' 5 politics. UN. Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, Calls for, Revitalizing 5+2 Mediation Format for Transnistria in His 2018 Start Briefing (Moldovaorg) The United Nations Secretary General made clear that it was unjusti?abgle'for confliCt in the region to persist and actions should be taken to stop dangerous nationalism from spreading, citing the process on Transnistria. The Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs andE-uropean Integration saluted the Secretary General?s call to "revitalize ex stent negotiation mechanisms. including the 5+2 format." Ukranian MP Says Russia Uses Unrecognized Transnistriai to Bypass UN Sanctions (Unian) MP lryna Friz, .the chair of Ukraine's Permanent Delegation to Parliamentary Assembly, says that the Russian Federation has been using unrecognized Transnistria to bypass sanctions imposed by the European 'UniOn. Fritz said that Russia's continuous encouragement of separatism and regional conflicts threatens the entirety of Europe. Received by Registration Unit 02/08/2018 10:55:36 AM Receivedl by Registration Unit 02/08/2018 10:55:36 AM . EU Encourages-Moldova toContinUe with Energy Reforms - . . . i - u. I The Vice President of the EC in charge or the Energy Union nieets with the Moldovan Prime Minister for European integration on January 22. 2018 (New Europe) (New Europe) European Commission Vice President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic met with Moldova's Deputy Prime Minister for European integration lurie Leanca to discuss EU- Moldova policy coordination. Sefcovic encouraged Moldova to continue with energy reforms, including the modernization of infrastructure to boost the country's resilience. Moldova Toasts Wines' Success on Western Markets (Baikan insight) Moldova has successfully tapped into the Western and Central EuroPean wine market, causing Moldova's wine producers to sell more wine than ever despite a Russian embargo Wine Trends for 2018: More Cans, Boxes, and Kegs for Starters (Washington Post) The Washington Post's food columnist, Dave McIntyre. noted that Moldovan wines offer a delicious product at a bargain price. This materiai is distributed by Cogent Strategies on behalf of the Democratic Party of Moidova. Additionai information is avaiiabie at the Department of Justice, Washington DC. Uri?wheres . Received?by Registration Unit 02/08/2018 10:55:36 AM