The experience of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) in managing multiple crises, gathered in more than 13 months since the outbreak of the war at the country’s border, has been presented during a discussion forum on the development of the National Security Strategy.
Minister Ana Revenco outlined the strategic principles that have made the internal affairs system resilient for more than a year in the face of multiple crises caused by the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine. According to the Minister, the decision to implement the three-tier coordination model as a matter of urgency is what has prevented the system from breaking down in the face of threats and actual manifestations of the hybrid war within the country’s borders.
#coordination at internal and inter-ministerial level
Last year, the Ministry of Internal Affairs developed an extremely useful tool for planning resources, manpower and targeting vulnerable segments. The team was able to anticipate certain risk situations. Contingency plans have been developed through analysis within MIA’s subdivisions, but also in collaboration with colleagues from other governmental structures. These plans have helped to save time, to orient human, technical and information resources so that subversive actions can be deterred and prevented.
#strengthening strategic partnerships
The MIA has managed to maintain stability and security in the country having a limited budget, calibrated for peacetime. With the budget for 2022 already used up by March, the €15 million provided by strategic partners has been an irreplaceable support.
In turn, the Republic of Moldova has demonstrated that it can provide valuable support to international bodies and the EU Member States. This is how the EU Support Hub for Internal Security and Border Management in Moldova was created – as a mechanism for monitoring, anticipating and countering threats to the security of the Republic of Moldova and, implicitly, of Europe.
#strong cooperation with the society
Perhaps one of the greatest achievements of the strategic orientation has been the close cooperation with the society in order to create humane conditions for people who have fled from unjust war. The fact that literally every fourth citizen of our country was directly involved in the national response to the refugee crisis has been a crucial element of Moldova’s resilience formula in the face of this challenge. The openness of citizens to learn by doing, to inform themselves and to develop a security culture for their own and their community’s benefit has motivated the authorities to generate new, integrated, coordinated platforms and models of communication between authorities.
In other words, the main objective of the authorities is the well-being, security and safety of citizens. And citizens are also the key factor who, by being open, pro-active, demanding performance and quality services from the authorities, contribute directly to the security culture of a nation, which does not develop instantly, but has immediate consequences for society.
The discussion forum “Strategic vision on ensuring national security in the context of National Security Strategy development” was organised by the Moldovan Presidency with the support of the Platform for Initiatives of Security and Defense (PISA) and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, with the participation of representatives of ministries and institutions of force, as well as security experts from the civil society.
