Romania will continue to help consolidate the democratic institutions in the neighbouring Republic of Moldova, says Romanian PM Grindeanu
In the joint meeting of the two cabinets, held for the first time on Thursday in Piatra Neamt, north-eastern Romania, the PM of Romania Sorin Grindeanu told his counterpart Pavel Filip that Bucharest planned to invest more in the Republic of Moldova and to be involved in the privatization process in that country. He also called on the pro-Western government in Chisinau not to abandon their EU accession efforts.
Sorin Grindeanu: “Romania expects consistency and reliability from the Republic of Moldova, and I reiterate that the pro-European choice is the only one able to respond in a sustainable manner to the prosperity, security and stability expectations of the Moldovan citizens. We are prepared to give further support to the Republic of Moldova in this direction.”
PM Filip thanked Romania for the refundable financial aid, viewed as indispensible for Moldova’s crippled economy and granted in instalments totalling 150 million euros. He also expressed Chisinau’s gratitude for the 96 minibuses offered by Romania to the Republic of Moldova. The vehicles, which will reach the beneficiaries in several weeks’ time, are intended to ensure the transport of school children in rural communities. He also concluded that the future of the Republic of Moldova can only be as an EU member, alongside Romania.
Pavel Filip: “I have assured the Prime Minister that Moldova stays firmly committed to finalising our strategic project, to implementing unfailingly the reforms stipulated in the EU association agreement. Actually, regardless of the position expressed by the President of Moldova, the Constitution gives more decision-making power to Parliament and the Government. And with this in mind, we can say that nothing will change in our relationship with Romania, just as nothing will change in our European endeavour, which is in fact our national project.”
PM Filip added that a NATO liaison office would be opened in Chisinau in June, in spite of the opposition of Moldova’s new president, the pro-Russian Igor Dodon. These clarifications from the Prime Minister were quite necessary, considering that last month Dodon had denied the participation of Moldovan troops in a military exercise in Romania, alongside Romanian and American soldiers. Dodon travelled to Moscow twice within three months of inauguration, and told Russian officials that he was considering the cancellation of the EU association and free trade agreements, concurrently with strengthening relations with the Eurasian Union and with the federalisation of the Republic of Moldova as a solution to the conflict in the pro-Russian breakaway region of Transdniester.
Moldovan analysts, quoted by Radio Romania correspondents, say that Dodon’s lavish display of pro-Moscow sentiment is exclusively electoral in nature, more specifically that Dodon is seeking Russian support for Moldova’s Socialists in the parliamentary election due next year.
(Translated by Ana Maria Popescu)
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