Romania’s FM visits Chișinău
The opening of the accession negotiations of the Republic of Moldova to the EU is a priority of Romania's foreign policy.
Newsroom, 21.06.2023, 13:50
Opening the EU accession negotiations of the Republic of Moldova as soon as possible is a priority of Romania’s international policy – said Romanias foreign minister, Luminiţa Odobescu. Early this week she paid her first visit to Chișinău, after taking over her mandate at the Foreign Ministry, which shows the importance that Romania attaches to its Eastern neighbor, to which it is linked by a past based on a common language, history and culture. For many decades under the influence of Moscow, due to the support of the pro-Russian forces in the region, the Republic of Moldova fundamentally reconfigured its national interest after the accession to power, in the not too distant past, of pro-European leaders.
However, Romania’s support for the return of the small Republic to the West was constant and there was no Romanian official at the highest level who did not emphasize this aspect. So, now it is Luminiţa Odobescu’s turn to have discussions with her counterpart from Chișinău about the support that Romania gives to Moldova through humanitarian aid, energy resources or support in the field of increasing resilience.
In a joint press statement with Luminița Odobescu, the Moldovan Foreign Minister, Nicu Popescu, also reviewed the constant help that Bucharest offers to Moldovan citizens, regardless of their geopolitical preferences, and hailed the strengthening of the bilateral strategic partnership for the European integration of the Republic of Moldova.
Nicu Popescu: Thanks to the openness and dialogue that we have had our relations with Romania are the strongest in the last 30 years.
The Romanian FM Luminiţa Odobescu promised the authorities in Chişinău a robust, priority support from Romania, adapted to the needs of Moldova with a view to preparing the opening of the EU accession negotiations as quickly as possible, possibly by the end of this year, as the Moldovan citizens would like: Granting political-diplomatic support to the Republic of Moldova for the advance of the European agenda is a priority of Romania’s foreign policy. We therefore support obtaining as soon as possible a favorable decision for the Republic of Moldova to start accession negotiations.
The Romanian Foreign Minister also had talks in Chişinău with the Prime Minister Dorin Recean, with the President of the Parliament, Igor Grosu, and with the Minister of Justice, Veronica Mihailov-Moraru. She was also received by the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu. There were discussions, among others, about strategic projects in the fields of energy, transport and digitalization, about the intensification of Romanias support for the reform objectives assumed in Chişinău, as well as about Romania’s full and determined support for strengthening the security and stability of Moldova. (LS)
