The Romanian Prime Minister visits Chisinau

Romania has reiterated its support for the stability and European aspirations of the neighboring Republic of Moldova

Bogdan Matei, 24.03.2023, 14:00

Founded on Romania’s eastern territories
annexed by the Stalinist Soviet Union after an ultimatum in 1940, the Republic
of Moldova proclaimed its independence from Moscow on August 27th
1991 after the abortive neo-Bolshevik coup against the reforming political
leader Mikhail Gorbachev. On that very day, Romania became the first country to
recognize the new independent republic. Since then, Bucharest has been the most
enthusiastic and staunchest supporter of the Republic of Moldova’s
independence, territorial integrity and EU aspirations.

On Thursday, Romanian president Klaus
Iohannis announced in Brussels that the neighboring republic would receive
additional support form the European Union. He also proposed that the
pro-Russian entities in the Republic of Moldova be subjected to European sanctions.

Also during his visit to Chisinau on
Thursday, Romania’s Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca reiterated Romania’s
unflinching support for the Republic of Moldova. The Republic of Moldova has bravely
embarked on a European journey, and Romania who understands very well the
stages of this journey, has expressed its full readiness to support its
endeavor – the head of the government in Bucharest says.

During the meeting he had
with Maia Sandu, the pro-West President of the republic, Ciuca says that
Romania is making efforts inside the EU to maintain the governmental, economic
and social stability of the Republic of Moldova.

In turn, Sandu voiced
gratitude for all the support the Republic of Moldova receives from Romania.

We have overcome all the
winter difficulties and this is also thanks to you. We have to carry on the
country’s stability and provide safety to our citizens. In another development
we are trying to increase the resilience of our economy so that we can raise
the living standards in the Republic of Moldova and you have supported us in
all these dimensions, Maia Sandu says.

According to President
Sandu, the Republic of Moldova has a busy agenda in the process of European
integration. This week will see the European Council’s proceedings and we know
that Romania is there fighting for the interests of the Republic of Moldova,
including for the following steps in the process of its European integration,
Sandu says.

Prime Minister Ciuca’s
visit comes after the one paid to Bucharest by his Moldovan counterpart Dorin
Recean on March 1st. At that time Ciuca hailed what he called the
excellent level of the bilateral relations and the remarkable dynamics of the
dialogue between Bucharest and Chisinau. According to the Prime Minister,
Romania has strengthened its statute as the first trade partner of the Republic
of Moldova. The bilateral trade, he recalled, went up to 1.2 billion dollars to
reach 3.6 billion dollars in 2022.

(bill)