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Ponta: Romania continues projects with Moldova as long as their will is to go towards Europe
Romania will continue all projects established with the former Chisinau government led by Iurie Leanca as long as Moldova’s wish to go towards Europe, towards Romania , to a democratic, European society continues, said premier Victor Ponta on Thursday.
He made that statement at the end of the meeting he had with the chairman of Moldova’s Parliament, Andrian Candu, in the presence of the chairman of the Chamber of Deputies, Valeriu Zgonea.
“All projects we began in 2014 with the government led by Leanca, where Candu was minister, will be continued as long as Moldova’s will is clear to go towards Europe, towards Romania, to a democratic European society. It is very important to send this message from Bucharest on behalf of the president, premier, chairman of the Chamber of Deputies, because we have done many things and will continue to do so for Moldova,” Ponta said.
He reminded that last year, Romania became Moldova’s first commercial partner, before Russia. At the same time the Romanian premier pointed out why he wanted to participate in the meeting of the two parliament chairmen.
“I wanted to participate in the meeting with the chairmen of the Chisinau Parliament because we have a special relationship with Moldova and secondly because he has been the chairman of Parliament for just a few months. Last year he was a minister in the government with whom we had many projects, in energy - the gas pipe and high power lines, and I wanted to learn from him what is happening in Chisinau and to assure him of the important projects with Romania’s support,”Ponta added.
ForMin Aurescu highlights role of Moldovan Parliament in country's European course
Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu met Republic of Moldova Parliament Chair Andrian Candu on Wednesday; the Romanian official took the opportunity to voice his support for further progress of the authorities in Chisinau, 'firstly as regards the strict application of the Association Agreement with the European Union, so that the Republic of Moldova preserves its advanced status within the Eastern Partnership.'
According to a release of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Aurescu highlighted the role of the Legislative in Chisinau in supporting the European course and the reforming process of the Republic of Moldova.
'Minister Bodgan Aurescu voiced his satisfaction for the reinvigoration of the bilateral parliamentary cooperation, a fundamental component of the political dialogue between Romania and the Republic of Moldova. In this spirit, he underlined the importance of agreeing as soon as possible on the date of the next meeting of the Joint Committee for the European Integration of the Parliament of Romania and the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, an instrument with a decisive role in the transfer of expertise and good practices in the field of European affairs,' MAE pointed out.
The top Romanian diplomat mentioned in this context the results of the recent session of the Joint Intergovernmental Committee for the European Integration and of the meeting of the European Action Group for the Republic of Moldova, convened upon the initiative of the Romanian foreign minister and of his French counterpart, held on March 16 in Brussels.
The two officials also discussed the preparations for the May Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga; Romania's support for the recognition of the European perspective of the Republic of Moldova was reasserted.
Aurescu also mentioned Romania's 'complex commitment' to the Republic of Moldova, 'materialized both through ample projects such as the energy and transportation interconnections and through initiatives with direct impact on citizens' level.'
The creation of a Moldovan replica of the Romanian Emergency Mobile Resuscitation and Extrication Service (SMURD) and the generous financing for the renovation and equipment of day-care facilities were mentioned among such initiatives.
'The latest evolutions following the election of the bashkan [governor] of Gagauzia and the perspectives of settling the Transnistria conflict were also discussed. Bogdan Aurescu also mentioned the issue of the access of the EU citizens, including Romanians, into the Republic of Moldova based on their identity cards; he evoked the example of Western Balkan states in this respect,' the quoted document adds.
Candu reasserted the commitment of the authorities in Chisinau 'for the European course, for the enhancement of the relations with Romania on all levels, and for the continuation of the domestic reforms necessary for the development and modernization of the state.'