Bucharest and Chisinau have a privileged relationship
Prime Minister Victor Ponta, who paid an official visit to Chisinau on Thursday, said Romania has, at present, the capability and resources to invest in the Republic of Moldova.
Corina Cristea, 22.05.2015, 14:06
The short visit that Romanias Prime Minister Victor Ponta paid to Chisinau on Thursday has strengthened even more the ties between the two neighboring countries, which share a common history, culture and language. Romania has been and will continue to be an unconditional and staunch supporter of the EU accession of the Republic of Moldova, a former Soviet state with a predominantly Romanian-speaking population, Victor Ponta has said. In an interview on Radio Chisinau, Ponta has emphasized how important it is to Romania, for Moldova to stick to its European agenda, given the complicated regional context.
Victor Ponta: “This is the most important thing, because, in the end, what else can you say to a brother or a friend other than to follow your countrys example, which turned out quite well. It is not easy to do so, as it involves sacrifices and difficult situations to go through, but your future is, just like ours, with the EU.
The Romanian Prime Minister has announced that he will propose in the upcoming period a series of extensive economic projects in strategic fields for Moldova, supported by Bucharest and for which financing and investment sources have already been found. A Romanian-Moldovan memorandum of understanding on projects needed to interconnect the two countries natural gas and electricity networks has been signed in Chisinau. It provides for the extension of the Ungheni-Iasi gas pipeline that will supply the entire Moldovan territory with Romanian natural gas.
The memorandum also stipulates that the first interconnection of the electricity lines between Isaccea and Vulcanesti, in southern Romania, to be extended up to Chisinau, will be operated in the initial stage of the project. In turn, Moldovan prime minister Chiril Gaburici has said that implementing these projects will allow for the diversification of energy resources, which will secure Moldova in this respect.
Chiril Gaburici: “The prerequisites for Moldovas integration into the EU energy market are being created by developing these projects. These interconnections that we make on the natural gas and electricity market do not mean that we plan to give up on other traditional partners. They only provide for a diversification of these resources and enhance the countrys energy security.
The amount needed for the Romanian-Moldovan energy interconnection projects stands at around 750 million euros, of which 421 million on Moldovas territory alone. The projects deadline is 2018.
