Turkey, Moldova to cooperate on training of law enforcement personnel

Nordic Monitor 

Turkey and Moldova have agreed to establish a mechanism of cooperation in the training of law enforcement personnel, the exchange of technical information and equipment in public security, and Turkish/Romanian language learning.

The agreement was signed on December 30, 2019 during President Igor Dodan’s official visit to Ankara to attend the first meeting of the Turkey-Moldova High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. Following the meeting the parties also signed accords on the conversion and mutual recognition of driver’s licenses, international transport and cooperation in the field of science and technology in the presence of heads of state Dodan and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

According to the text of the agreement, obtained by Nordic Monitor, the new mechanism focuses on reciprocal training, education, courses and internships provided at schools, academies and training centers; information, experience and technological cooperation in public security; and development of equipment and auxiliary training materials.

The 19-article agreement was submitted to parliament for ratification on June 8, 2020 by President Erdoğan.

The letter submitted to parliament seeking approval of the agreement with Moldova:

The deal also sets forth conditions on the protection and handling of classified information, documents and equipment produced or provided under the agreement, specifying how they will be exchanged, used and protected. Article 7 underlines that “[t]he Personnel shall avoid any sort of direct or indirect contact with media during the period they stay in the Receiving Party.”

The accord was signed by Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and Moldovan Internal Affairs Minister Pavel Voicu, and the terms of the agreement will be executed by the interior ministry on the Turkish side and the internal affairs ministry for Moldova.

The deal is valid for one year and will be automatically extended for consecutive one-year periods. According to the agreement, either party must notify the other of the intent to terminate at least three months in advance.

The new deal will broaden cooperation between Turkish and Moldovan police and security forces. In 2018 the parties had concluded a military training deal covering areas such as participation in joint exercises, on-the-job training and logistics.

The agreement, concluded by the defense ministers in Chisinau on October 17, 2018, covered participation in joint exercises, military training and education, military legal systems, cartography and hydrography, the exchange of military personnel for professional development, information and experience sharing on military scientific and technological research and carrying out joint social, sportive and cultural programs.

Speaking at a joint press conference with President Dodon in Ankara last December, President Erdoğan said: “Our strategic partnership is a reflection of the friendship between our countries and of the level our cooperation has reached. We see the signs of our strategic partnership in the area of defense cooperation as well.” Trade volume between Turkey and Moldova in 2019 amounted $568 million, and Turkish investments in Moldova totaled $300 million.

“The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), which has realized over 400 projects, and other Turkish institutions always stand by the Moldovan people,” Erdoğan added.

In March 2018, Selda Özdenoğlu, TİKA local coordinator in Chisinau, was granted the order of honor “for her role and goodwill in the projects in the Gagauz Autonomous Region and Moldova,” by President Dodon.

The 12-page security agreement is posted below: