the institutions are extremely weak in moldova. moldova — are extremely weak in moldova.joined the russian federation. i moldova is a member of the cas. nobody is a member of the cas. nobody is criticising moldova. but pauple _ is criticising moldova. but people are saying that we are backsliding. these kind of lies heavily— backsliding. these kind of lies heavily damage the reputation of european bureaucracy. you must have — of european bureaucracy. you must have seen _ of european bureaucracy. you must have seen the _ of european bureaucracy. 7m, must have seen the videos on social media of the brutal way in which the police have treated some of the protesters in the last few days. what is your reaction to that? i in the last few days. what is your reaction to that?- in the last few days. what is your reaction to that? i do not condone those _ your reaction to that? i do not condone those incidents. - your reaction to that? i do not condone those incidents. an l condone those incidents. an investigation will happen. in this case, it is important to have — this case, it

we are just keeping our eye on some live pictures from moldova watching in the swearing in of moldova's second term in office after what was described as a tense election run—off earlier in november. just in the autumn. that was between moldova having a choice between moldova having a choice between europe and russia, what this election was described as. maia sandu won about 55% of the vote. we are just keeping an eye on that swearing in of maia sandu as the president of moldova, incumbent president, pro—west — leaning. so, images from moldova. we willjust take a short break now. a nasa spacecraft is set to make history today. it will get closer to the sun than any other human—made object. the parker solar probe must survive the radiation and extreme temperatures it will encounter, to solve some of the mysteries about our nearest star. our science editor, rebecca morelle, has the story. our sun in all its fiery splendour. we've been studying it for centuries, but there's still so much we don't know about it. now the closest—ever encounter is set to finally shed light on our star. three,

people are suffering because of maya san dues misadventures many in moldova and ukraine are actually nervous because although the europeans promise some kind of independence from russian energy resources, after 2 and a half years, they have not been able to do anything to get rid of us fax or stubborn things. europe will not be able to a band and russian energy resources in the next 50 years. and everyone understands perfectly well that energy security in europe depends if not entirely, then almost entirely on russia. but they won't be able to get anything out of us through the courts or through brussels. now the mold oven authorities will make some attempts to attain alternative energy resources through other countries. it will turn out later is that those are the same russian energy resources. just they won't be paying a lot more for them to the border of parents on impact of solid tide since of fled in recent days. they have gotten defensive. if he says it's carried as a retaliation, strike a gaze quote, malicious elements in the area at several points beyond the hypothetical line

why should they take moldova on? uh, we also have a lot of the positive sides and a lot of advantages. now i think that's a, that's, that's really what, so what we're working towards we can offer a very dynamic, uh, eco system. we, we can offer a pricing economy based on the innovation. we can offer of a country that live in a market that's, that's would be able to also provides uh for the, for the european union. and once again, nice endings. uh, you know, mold over being a small country doesn't really makes us an exception from most your, in present the member states. because with a few exceptions, your opinion is a group of small countries, relatively small, smaller demo, the bigger than mobile, but it's countries that'd be fine just to stick together and support each other. and that's how europe functions. what we bring on the table is exactly that's more for the are being serious of a solidarity and the cooperation and working together to, to support each other and to solve the problems. the collectively as you

ukraine rate is on most coast influence is increasingly being felt in neighboring countries to in moldova, for instance, a nation of around 2 and a half 1000000 people voted by ukraine and romania. a referendum of whether to amend the constitution to include the goal of the membership as exposed to divide. the vote was expected to pass comfortably in the pro western mandate was secured with only a narrow majority that leads to the former soviet republic at the crossroads mould of the remains one of your support countries. it circumstance is further complicated by the presence of russian troops. the break away region of trends in the street president, my son do, who was re elected last month, is a storage advocate to west of integration. but not all in a country agree. can this small land look nation, spend all internal and external pressures to sustain its pro european course, or will those seeking to strengthen historic ties with russia present motive as deputy prime minister and administer for economic development and digitalization demetrius? i love the book, talks to l. g 0, the begin

obviously in moldova disenfranchising, hundreds of thousands of voters in the diaspora, and it was all, it is called good. okay. even though the mold opens in the west that you have the asper, and we're able to vote in multiple places they, they ask for, in russia were denied. and that, essentially, but teddy cuz oh, right, i mean on this menu here, there's a winner. and lease is where speaking now and it's georgia. romania is probably the most. it's problematic one because it's in the club. and now you have, you know, brussels, a genuine flat thing to that, teddy because absolutely right now the, the elections in germany well being are, we can't prove it. and i just said, so they, i just feel there was something wrong. we've got to cancel it. george poplar said that's exactly right because what happens is now in the west is whenever the election results don't go your way and that's a good be kind of, he didn't go mean many places you. so a russia. and then of course, the next step is where, okay, well, what's your evidence that russia, in defeat and rough effect, the, the election out

we have a romania, moldova, in georgia. without, you know, keeping my hands here do like that phrase regime change menu. go ahead. yes. unfortunately, i think it's a back up for it is because the, you know, that's what happens in the west and what happens between most of washington, libya to call the shots on this as on everything. and you know, blessings, clients are bad. so they have these, these, the seasons splits up and states sort of slotted for having the same same type of mind sometimes who got a surprise, which is like saying, you know, which was the heart of that surprise in many ways i thing. but they did conduct a video change suddenly and, and unfortunately it succeeded. now. um, i believe if you asked me to about this particular menu model of, uh, ukraine, georgia, i think you mentioned dr. ukraine, of course it is a special case because they have to sort of solidify the redeem change they've already done. right. so if you look at the taxes, whether you're still going to have a resume change, oregon will do. b

we have romania, moldova, and georgia without, you know, keeping my hands here. do you like that phrase, machine change menu. go ahead and yes, unfortunately, i think it's a back up for a, it's because the, you know, that's what happens in the west and what happens between most of washington we really call the shots on this as on every thing. and you know, blessings clients are bad so they have these, these, these seasons that certain states sort of slow to. but having that was even change happen. and sometimes who got a surprise, which is like say, you know, which was a harder but surprise in many ways i thing, but they did conduct a, did you change something really and, and unfortunately it's succeeded now. um, i believe if you ask me about this particular menu model of ukraine, georgia, i think you mentioned dried. and ukraine, of course, is especially the case because they have to sort of solidify the redeemed change they've already done. right. so if you look at the 2 cases where he is still going to have it was even change oregon mode over to solidify it, r

obviously in moldova disenfranchising, hundreds of thousands of voters in the diaspora. and it was all that is called good, okay. even though most opens in the west, if you have the ask for and we're able to vote in multiple places they, they ask for in russia were denied just and that essentially, but teddy cuz oh right, i mean on this menu here, there's a winner and lease is where speaking now and it's georgia. romania is probably the most. it's problematic one because it's in the club. and now you have, you know, brussels, a genuine flat thing to that, teddy, because absolutely right now that the elections in germany well being are, we can't prove it. and i just said, so they, i just feel there was something wrong. we've got to cancel it. george poplar said that's exactly right because what happens is now in the west is whenever the election results don't go your way. and that's it because he didn't go mean many places you say russia. and then of course, the next step is, well, okay, well, what's your evidence that russia into fee and rough effect of the election outc

so israel is now saying though it wants to open an embassy in moldova, instead saying it has friendly relations, then with ireland. so what does that signal to you and does it merely wish to have relations with countries that agree with that politically? well yeah, there, there is an argument that says that is what is your own doing is with an icing diplomacy as if what the nice thing diplomacy hasn't existed as all is as old as diplomacy itself. but it's always been webinar for us as it brought you have, does it britain, because the china doesn't, everyone's to be. and so in that respect, announcing that we're shutting down, shutting down the operation is the embassy an iron, but open a one in moldova is this is part of that grandstanding that i referred to uh earlier but, but, but here's the thing, the re, i, i have nothing sympathetic to say about iris policies like i condemn and criticize my government 24 hours, 7 days a week. but that's not the point. the point is, how do you conduct diplomatic relations if you shut down embassies in countries that you disagree with them, then mo

, both from northwest to robbie and the we've my home is mainly moldova, adjust the custom one to if we talk about this home in the physical sense, this is the place where i live, which and where the band is put on the musicians i've worked with. it's my family in a way, and, but i mean to get a definitive seminar, costa acosta does a c h da da, let's you lock us up into me is to shoot them in here. so if that's how you define hauling up into present, it's here by selling you. but house for me is also in romania and then i also felt at home and you've trained this issue because i am of ukrainian just sense as well . but the just, i also felt at home in russia when i traveled there, it wasn't because when i was born daughter, it was all one country. we all grew up with the same literature, the same schumer, the same joke. yeah, they circulated everywhere. i think we all have the same furniture with someone. i mean there were things that were very similar in this whole region. the supervisor put a de la mancha at a to resell it. and so there came a point when i had to choose between un

success for democracy in mull dovinga and row -- moldova and romania this month and syria expelling putin is inspiration for the patriots of georgia defeating war criminal putin. in conclusion, god bless our troops as the global war on terrorism continues. open borders for dictators puts all americans at risk of more 9/11 attacks eminent as warned by the f.b.i. trump will re-institute existing laws to protect american families with peace through strength. merry christmas, chaplain kibben. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute, revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. quigley: thank you, madam speaker. today, as in every day, we open the house with the pledge of allegiance and the words with liberty and justice for all. but some of our nation's greatest ills have come from moments when we have chosen to make exceptions to all. right now there are those who once again make exceptio

it's happening also in moldova. the people there do not wish to be under the thumb of a reincarnation of the soviet union under vladimir putin's dictatorship. so they've -- so they voted against the georgian dream party but the georgian dream party in charge of the election machinery has tried to rig the election. and so the people of georgia have risen up in response. and the georgian dream government, an arm of the putin russia government, has responded in tyrannical fashion. the georgian dream party has worked to overthrow the will of the voters and has marshalled the power of the police to crack down violently on peaceful protests. in a number of days, mr. president, the georgian dream party could actually forcibly remove the democratically elected president of georgia from power. now, the biden administration has taken baby steps, long overdue, and i wish they would be more forceful. our american administration has now publicly sanctioned two individuals. the state and treasury departments have sanctioned a sen

there were a number of different countries across europe — in turkey, germany, italy, moldova, i believe person would come in there to say, i want to get to the uk, as an example. they would reach out to them to say we have people interested in travelling across to somewhere, some destination. and then shamo and khdir�*s responsibility was for the transportation from point a to point z. we know that these people smugglers had contacts in northern iraq. so i've come to erbil, in the kurdistan region of the country, to try to find out more about these kind of criminal networks. this ancient city is proudly and distinctly kurdish. but it harbours a dark reality. this region is now an important base for people smugglers. we've enlisted the help of a local man to find out more about this shady but hugely profitable industry. we've agreed to protect his identity. he has extensive experience in investigating this type of criminality. and it doesn't take him long to make contact with a man on tiktok. he advertises openly as a people smuggler based in iraqi kurdistan. he quickly tells our underco

elections were rigged, because there was interference by russia in these elections as there was in moldovais today in remania and that's something that is happen, and will be happening in other countries if it's in the stopped here, if we're not supported, and if there's no understanding by the western partners of what is happening. if you want to understand you're not going towns by listening to the prime minister or to the so-called prime minister or by trying to have me comment his words. there are many measures all around the televisions of the world where you can see exactly what is happening on the streets of our capital tonight. >> and these protesters have been out in force every night are. you confident that they will be able to change this decision to suspend these e.u. accession talks? >> well i'm confident that it is what the georgian population wants. and georgia is a country that has been resilient for centuries to all the empires that were trying to subdue it. and it has come very small country, very difficult region, it has come to this day. so i don't think that the small

he said the world should not allow ukraine, moldova and georgia to fall into russia�*s hands. netherlands would raise an issue of cancelling georgia�*s visa free travel to europe stop this is one of the privileges that people here have as part of their ongoing process of integration into the european union. georgia is only a candidate country at the moment, and there are a number of reforms that they have to undergo in order to become a full member. these people suspect that the government has no plans of introducing those democratic reforms, and that is why i came up with this statement then went back on it, but there is very little trust among the protesters that government is genuinely trying to take this country to the eu. and we have seen some violence in the last few days, we have seen a lot of arrests. where do you think all of this will end? will those protesters just keep coming out onto the streets day after day? coming out onto the streets day after da ? ~ ,., ., coming out onto the streets day after day?— after day? well, so far they are doing — after day? well, so

the focus of that aggression today is on ukraine, to a lesser extent, moldova and georgia, and even toextent from that, the hybrid war that they've been engaged in with the west, particularly in eastern europe, the most acute crisis is in ukraine, which is where i think we need to focus our opposition to russian aggression. but the real issue for the united states is russia. and so when i hear my fellow republicans say they don't care about the borders of ukraine, they care more about the borders of the southwestern border of the southwestern united states. i say, okay, then what's your russia? you don't care about ukraine? then what's your russia policy? and if your russia policy, if your idea of how the united states deals with russia does not include opposing russia in ukraine, then you have a failed russia policy. what do you believe, though president trump's view is on the conflict? i don't know, one of the reasons why i thought it was a pressure cooker. for me, being deputy secretary was how much things changed without notice within the trump administration. but i'm not prepared

have a frozen somewhat semi hot conflict going on in europe that could perforate to other countries. moldova comes to mind. and so if we don't solve this problem from european perspective, then we'll have to face a much bigger problem, i think over the medium for long term. and that russia has continued interest in, in meddling in european affairs. and one more tool to do that. so you can when we talk about your brain, we also can't forget the people of the crane and the military. specifically marina . what does it mean if we see russia over sort of ukraine seating territory to russia, something that has been a no go for a large part of the ukrainian population and also for the ukrainian military. with that, put an end to a lot of our zalinski as the countries leader. do you think? well, that's a very good question because we need to look at presidents about, excuse ratings, especially since may of this year. because um, obviously ukraine should have had the elections and from my understanding and flooring also has a queen in media um his readings have full and he has full in popularity, esp

most goes in fluency is increasingly being felt in neighboring countries to in moldova, for instance, a nation of around 2 and a half 1000000 people voted by ukraine and romania. a referendum of whether to amend the constitution to include the goal of the you membership as exposed divide . the vote was expected to pass comfortably. but the, the in the pro west and mandate was secure.

the focus of that aggression today is on ukraine, to a lesser extent, moldova and georgia, and even torom that, the hybrid war that particularly in eastern europe, the most acute crisis is in ukraine, which is where i think— we need to focus our opposition to russian aggression. but the real issue for the united states is russia. and so when i hear my fellow republicans say they don't care about the borders of ukraine, they care more about the borders of the southwestern border of the southwestern united states. i say, okay, then what's your russia? you don't care about ukraine? then what's your russia policy? and if your russia policy, if your idea of how the united states deals with russia does not include opposing russia in ukraine, then you have a failed russia policy. what do you believe, though president trump's view is on the conflict? i don't know, one of the reasons why i thought it was a pressure cooker. for me, being deputy secretary was how much things changed without notice within the trump administration. but i'm not prepared to say that i know now that trump is going to

ukraine rate is on most goes influence is increasingly being felt in neighboring countries to in moldova, for instance, a nation of around 2 and a half 1000000 people voted by ukraine and romania. a referendum of whether to amend the constitution to include the goal of the membership as exposed to divide. the vote was expected to pass comfortably in the pro western mandate was secured with only a narrow majority that leads the former soviet republic at the crossroads mould of the remains. one of your.

, which has had one of its first peaceful transfers of power in the last year, and adding to that moldova, where the president just won reelection and the referendum to join the european union past narrowly and armenia, which has made a significant strategic pivot toward the u.s. and has done a ton to fight corruption, zambia, malawi, nepal, the dominican republic. any of you who know anything about the countries i mentioned can take note of the difficulty taking forward the democratic reform agenda and indeed the economic challenges faced by just about every country i have mentioned. major challenges in all of them, but as a forcing function for our agency to think about delivery as associated with political reform it's been terrific and i think if you had the leaders gathered up here as we do at the united nations general assembly every year for this coalition of people who still self identify as reformers , what they would say is this has been invaluable. has it been enough to offset the target of shipping, the covid hangover, you know, the debt distress, there are so many structural f

authorities called out pro-russian actors influencing recent elections in romania's neighborhood, moldovaktok, in bulgaria. >> tiktok needs to step up resources to counter information operations. >> parliamentarians in europe challenged tiktok executives. >> 95 content moderators, 6000 in europe. what were they doing in the elections? >> it goes to our platform, an activity taking place on our platform. we don't know what's happening offline. >> georgescu described the decision to annul the first round and delay the second round as a state to. >> the rule of law is in an induced coma and justice is subordinated to political orders. >> some centrist parties also condemned the court ruling and argued popular disaffection with the government opened the door to an outsider's campaign. >> there was a very real networking process of mobilizing disenfranchised groups across the region and across the diaspora. >> this is the director of the german marshall fund for the black sea region. >> grievances from the regions, from rural communities, from categories of the public that don't feel they are

which has had one of its first peaceful transfers of power in the last year, and then adding to that, moldova, where president sa in, du -- sandu just won re-election, where the referendum to joint e.u. passed narrowly, but passed despite massive russian election interference. armenia, which has made a significant strategic pivot toward the united states and has done a ton again to fight corruption there. zambia, ma law which, in a -- malawi, nepal, the dominican republic. any of you who know anything about the countries i've mentioned can take note of the difficulty taking forward the democratic reform agenda and indeed the economic challenges faced by i think just about every country i have mentioned. tanzania, i forgot. major challenges in all of them. but as a forcing function for our agency to think about delivery as associated with political reform, it's been terrific and i do think if you talk -- if you had the leaders gathered up here as we do at the u.n. general assembly every year, we try to assemble the leaders for this cross-regional coalition of people who still self-identify as

, small countries, i mean, georgia, 4 million people, you know, ukraine is bigger, of course, but moldova, all of these small nations are really fair game for vladimir putin. if he wants to kind of neuter them or make them at least, you know, kind of a protection for russia, which would violate their sovereignty. so it's a very it's a dramatic, historic moment. and i think, you know, keeping track of it is is pretty complicated at this point, no question. >> good to have you there, jill dougherty, thanks so much. thank you. and still ahead, the president elect has a new obsession overseas with the panama canal. and now he has a new ambassador who could be facing a much more difficult job. please do stay with us. >> andy, it has been one wild year. >> i know that whole new live stream was crazy. >> dream was crazy. >> what? you have been following actual news, right oh, boy. >> new year's eve live with anderson and andy. live coverage starts at eight on cnn and streaming after home aglow cleaned our place for $19. >> we fired our old housekeeper home. glow tackled everything from our kitch