Chisinau, August 23 (Infotag). The Small Businesses Association, importers and traders in used things believe it is not enough to simply impose a moratorium on the governmental Resolution on prohibiting second-hand imports and sale, and are energetically demanding to annul the Resolution.

Association Chairman Eugeniu Roscovan stated during a news conference in Infotag today that the Resolution runs contrary to the current legislation, including to the Constitution.

“The Main Law puts is clearly that the State must ensure freedom of trade and entrepreneurial activities, protect a fair competition, and increase the number of jobs in the country. With this Resolution, however, the Government only stimulates shadowy economy and corruption”, Mr. Roscovan said.

In his belief, the State only declares its support for small businesses. In the reality, it seeks to strangle small businesses and establish State monopoly on many kinds of business activity.

According to him, second-hand goods worth 24 million lei were realized in Moldova last year, and the State Budget received 8 million lei in proceeds from that business – in direct taxes alone. If the notorious Resolution is put into force, approximately 15 thousand second-hand traders will become jobless. Meanwhile, these persons pay 50 to 400 lei for their annual business patents, and feed their families, “not to mention that a greater part of the Moldovan population dresses in second-hand clothes”, Eugeniu Roscovan said.

He reminded that on Thursday, August 25, thousands of second-hand traders from all corners of Moldova will gather in Chisinau for a meeting of protest against “the Government’s illicit actions”. He failed to forecast the development of events if the Government refuses to meet the protesters’ demands, and only said that a group of lady traders had already stated they would go on a hunger strike then.

The said Resolution #767, passed by the Moldovan Government in July, stipulates that second-hand imports to Moldova shall be banned from this September 1, and trade in used items – from March 1, 2006.