Mutsuo Mabuchi: Moldova is a big country because its residents have a big heart and broad soul

– Your Excellency, you head the diplomatic mission of Japan at Kiev (Ukraine) and have been accredited also as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Moldova. How often do you happen to come to Chisinau, and what is your assessment of the present shape of Moldo-Japanese relations? Which possibilities do you think there exist for broadening our ties?  

– I presented my credentials to His Excellency the President of Moldova precisely 2 years ago. Since then, I have visited your country 8 times. Over these two years, the first impression I came to have about Moldova has developed into a conviction that Moldovans are people looking into their future with a great hope and optimism. The more I come to know Moldova, the more I realize this is exactly so.  

Moldova is now in the process of building a state, of introducing the principles of democracy and market economy, and of building an open society. Japan tries in every way to help Moldova in its reform implementation and in successful state building.

– Moldovan Deputy Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Andrei Stratan will pay a visit to Japan in late January. Which main questions the two sides are going to discuss during the trip?  

– This will be the first such visit since 1999, when the then Moldovan foreign minister, Mr. Nicolae Tabacaru, came to Japan. I do hope Mr. Stratan’s visit will promote the consolidation of relations between our countries and of the Japanese assistance to Moldova. 

The parties are going to touch on a multitude of questions. First and foremost, the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs will discuss the current shape of the bilateral relations, and directions and perspectives of their development in all spheres, including the economic one.  

They also intend to negotiate questions of the two countries’ collaboration on the international arena, in particular at the United Nations, as Japan is looking forward to Moldova’s backing on questions of reforming the UN Security Council.  

The delegations will also consider GUAM activities, and other international cooperation issues. Japan will present its vision of the situation in Eastern Asia, and Mr. Stratan will, apparently, describe the processes taking place in Europe, in Russia and in nearest countries.  

– You mentioned economic cooperation – a matter Moldova is extremely interested in. This republic needs foreign investments that should help us overcome crisis more efficiently. In 2007, our Parliament passed essential legal acts targeted at economy liberalization, entrepreneurship development, and investment attraction. Are these measure known in Japan? Can Moldova count on Japanese investments?   

– We are aware of the economy-liberalization and investment-attraction measures. At the same time, one should admit that, regretfully, the Japanese public has an insufficient knowledge of the contents of those documents. The reason to this is not solely the great distance separating our countries, but also the absence of Moldovan embassy to Japan.  

We are trying to repair this gap. But it would be good also if Moldova opened an embassy in Japan or accredited its diplomats at Tokyo pluralistically. This would be beneficial for spreading information on such important moments.  

As for private investments, I should say here that the factors Japanese investors regard as key ones are the predictability of situation, transparency of processes, and superiority of law in all economic and commercial situations. I see that Moldova makes efforts to provide such conditions for investors. If the measures come to be really effective, investments are likely to arrive.   

– Which sectors of the Moldovan national economy can be attractive for Japanese entrepreneurs? Are any concrete projects of bilateral cooperation going to be negotiated during our foreign minister’s visit to Tokyo? 

– I communicate with Japanese people of business quite often. Unfortunately, I cannot say presently they are substantially aware of what is taking place in Moldova, or of the current situation here, or of the country’s perspectives.  

To my mind, a sector perspective for cooperation is agriculture, including winemaking, and food industry. While in Tokyo, Mr. Andrei Stratan will meet with a representative of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and with the Head of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). I hope the sides will discuss Moldovan export promotion onto the Japanese market, and I believe the meetings will be efficient and useful. In my opinion, it would be advisable to discuss possibilities of holding in Japan an exhibition of Moldova-made goods.    

– Moldovan companies are trying to penetrate into the Japanese market. For example, last year the Mileştii Mici wine corporation started exporting its products to Japan. Did the Japanese market notice their appearance? Do Moldovan winemakers have a perspective of expanding their exports to Japan?  

– I am happy that private companies are moving forward and establishing cooperation ties. For this, accords on the governmental level are not necessary. This is exactly what we call an open society – when enterprises reach agreements themselves and find ways to cooperation.  

As for Moldovan wines, I can say that, really, consumers in my country are learning increasingly more about your wines. Myself, I use my modest possibilities to promote Moldovan wines. I always offer them to my guests coming to the ambassadorial residence in Kiev, and bring the wines as gifts to my friends when I go to Japan. They already know wines made at Cricova, Purcari, Romanesti. The only thing these wines lack is advertising. As a result, so few people know them. This applies also to Moldovan divins [cognacs] and brandies, which I believe could win popularity on the Japanese market.  

– Your Excellency, many countries render one-time technical assistance in various fields to Moldova. Such assistance is oftentimes provided in the form of projects, and a considerable proportion of the project means goes as salaries to specialists from the donor country who help carry out such projects. Unlike this practice, Moldova has been implementing – continuously for many years now – something absolutely unique: the Japan’s Grant Aid Project for the Increase of Food Production (2KR) in the Republic of Moldova. Thank to it, many local farmers have obtained up-to-date farm machines. Do you like the way 2KR is being realized? Will it be continued?  

– I like very much the way the project is implemented in Moldova. This success is largely thank to the very efficient work of the 2KR Project Implementation Unit. It is staffed with highly qualified, experienced professionals. I have many a time seen in Chisinau how local farmers come to the Unit for advice and for help, and how politely and professionally the Unit personnel treat them. This is very important. Moldova has excellent ‘owners’ of the Project who bear responsibility for its success.  

To date, the Japan-provided grants for Moldova are approaching US$15 million. With an account of the partnership fund, these means were used for purchasing 2.5 thousand tractors, combine harvesters, other farm machines and equipment, thus marking a real, tangible contribution to agricultural production development in this republic.   

Support to agriculture is not easy a work. To my mind, the realization of this project in Moldova is an example of successful assistance Japan can render to the farm sector of a foreign country. I want very much such projects to be continued, and hope the Government of Japan will continue them in the future.  

In November 2007, an agreement was signed on furnishing assistance to a local technical center that will be maintaining and repairing farm machines obtained within the 2KR framework. This is another project to be implemented in parallel.

– European integration has been declared as a priority objective of Moldova’s external and domestic policies. Do you think Chisinau does enough to attain this objective? What do you believe Moldova should do to make European integration closer?  

– Japan is no member of the European Union, so my remarks will be ones made by a third party. We feel very distinctly Moldova’s striving for integration into Europe, and even your foreign office has been named accordingly – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration. 

I reckon Moldova is advancing precisely in this direction, and sooner or later the European Union’s doors will open for Moldova, and this republic will become a EU member. Then, new perspectives will open for Moldova, as the EU membership has many advantages, though the common European home will be expecting from Moldova a worthy, sound contribution, and the Moldovan people’s uniqueness and national culture can constitute an essential part of such contribution. Before your accession to the European Union, I would like to wish Moldova and its residents to make their utmost to preserve their uniqueness, originality, national culture, customs and traditions – all what is typical of this beautiful country.  

I presume the European Union will realize that upon admitting Moldova to the organization, the EU itself will come to benefit from many positive moments. The perception of this will bring the European integration perspective closer to Moldova.  

– One of the impediments to Moldova’s integration with the European Union has been the Transnistria conflict – one of the main problems Moldova is facing. How would you assess Transnistrian settlement perspectives and the steps being undertaken in this direction?

– Really, this is one of Moldova's serious problems that would not be resolved yet. I guess the Moldovan leadership makes serious efforts to solve it. In this context, I would like to highlight President Vladimir Voronin’s trust-building initiatives and the decision by the Government of Moldova to establish 7 profiled working groups to put these initiatives into life.  

We have been well aware of what is made to solve the Transnistria problem. I presume Japan could render certain assistance in this work. As far as I know, the United States and Great Britain are trying to help, and I would like Tokyo to think about our possible giving a helping hand to Moldova as well. For instance, we could consider a project that would help raise living standards in the Transnistrian region. 

There exist other opportunities as well, including within the framework of the Arch of Freedom and Prosperity Project being realized by Japan. As a country seeking to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Japan is supposed to and shall conduct a kind of diplomacy matching such status. 

– Your Excellency, you spoke very eloquently of Moldova’s uniqueness, and wished our preserving it. And, still, could you elaborate on what exactly you think this uniqueness includes, and what are Moldova’s distinctive traits?   

– Each nation has its own history, traditions and culture. You cannot say one country’s values are better and the other’s are worse. Their value is in their being unique.  

As for Moldova, it is a small country surrounded by stronger states, and it has lived through a hard history. Despite this, Moldovans remain light, optimistic and very benevolent people. I presume all this is based on the people’s confidence in their traditions and culture. And Moldovans should keep on building their state on the confidence basis. A nation caring for its culture and treating other cultures with respect will never lose its way, even if in a crisis.  

The citizens of Moldova should remember:  a large state is a country whose residents have a big heart and a broad soul. In this sense, Moldova is a large country.

- Thank you very much for your interview, Mr. Mabuchi. May we wish you every success in your diplomatic work.

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