Moldovan cabinet's weekly meeting

Chisinau, 5 September /MOLDPRES/ - The Cabinet of Ministers today approved a draft law amending and supplementing the Criminal Code No 985-XV of 18 April 2002, the government's communication and media relations department has reported.

The initiative, put forward by a group of lawmakers, is aimed at ensuring the protection of children's fundamental rights in Moldova and outlaws the amnesty of people convicted for subjecting children to sexual abuse.

The cabinet also approved a draft law on the amendment of the Criminal Code as regards the enforcement of the law on the freedom of speech. The amendment provides for punishing cases of media censorship and for obstructing the operation of unlawful media outlets.

The government gave the go-ahead to a draft law amending and supplementing some legislative documents providing for sanctions against private persons and legal entities that defy the obligations of supplying medical institutions with medication.

The officials of the executive body approved a draft law on the amendment of Article 19 of the law No 1456-XII of 25 May 1993 on pharmaceutical activity, which imposes restrictions on the location of drug stores. The government members reached the conclusion that demographic and geographic restrictions on the location of drug stores damage the free competition, limits the labour market, which has a negative impact on both private people and entrepreneurs.

The government approved a draft law amending and supplementing legislative documents amending the regulation on the advertising and promotion of medication worked out by the Agency of Medication at the recommendation of the European Directive 2001/83.CE. The implementation of the regulation will make it possible to promote medication in an ethical manner and to protect the consumers.

The Cabinet of Ministers also approved the action plan on the construction of the Freedom Monument presented by the Culture Ministry. The monument will be erected in the square of the Moldovan parliament and will be a symbol of the freedom of the Moldovan people, of the young generation s fight for freedom and of the protest against the Communist dictatorship. The monument is expected to be created and installed within about eight months.

Also today, the cabinet approved a draft law on the approval of the Moldovan-Georgian intergovernmental agreement on mutual administrative assistance in the customs sector drafted in Tbilisi on 9 July 2012. The agreement will ensure the precise assessment of customs fees on the import and export of goods, the accurate application of prohibitions, restrictions and measures of controlling goods.

The government members approved a draft on the launch of negotiations on a five-year agreement between the Moldovan and Chinese defence ministries, which stipulates that the Chinese side shall provide non-repayable military aid to Moldova and which assigns full-fledged powers to Defence Minister Vitalie Marinuta.

The government assigned full owners to Interior Minister Dorin Recean to sign a cooperation agreement between Moldova and Russia.

The cabinet relieved Valeriu Hincu of his duties of director of the Interior Ministry's centre for Combating Human Trafficking on the basis of his request and appointed Ana Revenco to replace him.

Prime Minister Vlad Filat congratulated the new director of the centre and assured her that she will benefit from the support needed to ensure the good operation of the body.

"There should be zero tolerance to human trafficking in Moldova and those guilty of such crimes should bear all legal consequences and sanctions should be tough enough," Filat said.