On the occasion of the participation at the Eastern Partnership Summit, Andrei Stratan, Deputy Prime -Minister, Minister for Foreign Affaires and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova met today in Prague, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner responsible for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy. The discussions mainly touched upon the current social and political situation from the Republic of Moldova and EU, possibilities of further developing the EU-Moldova relations.

In his reaction to the information submitted by the chief of Moldovan diplomacy, the high level European official underlined that the institution that he represents and European Union per ensemble follow with great attention the evolutions in the Republic of Moldova and look for the stabilization of the situation. Benita Ferrero-Waldner inquired about the recent measures undertaken by the Moldovan authorities in this respect as well as about the prospects of initiating a dialogue between the government and opposition. EU emphasized that both sides are expected to engage in the process of promoting reforms.

The Deputy Prime-minister, Andrei Stratan ensured that the party which obtained the majority at the 5 April elections is aware of the opposition role in a democratic state and is expecting proposals for cooperation from the other three political formations which entered the new Parliament. The Minister emphasized the necessity of such a kind of cooperation within the Parliament as well as within the Commission created by virtue of presidential decree aiming at elucidating the circumstances of the events that took place on 7 April and assessment of their consequences.

Furthermore, the EU representative encouraged Moldovan authorities to increase their efforts in the sense of fully putting into value the vast potential offered by the Eastern Partnership, in order to accelerate and deepen the political and economic reforms, for a more active implementation of the European standards, as well as for overcoming the difficulties that out country is faced with in the light of the global economic crisis. The European Commissioner ensured that the participation within the Eastern Partnership will help Republic of Moldova not only to overcome these issues, but it will also make it easier for our country to approach closer the EU, thus achieving its strategic objective of European integration.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner had also given guarantees that once the new government is established, the parties will initiate consultations in order to launch as soon as possible the official negotiations on the new Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and EU meant to contribute to the strengthening of the political dialogue, enhancing of the economic and trade exchanges, gradual liberalization of the visa regime of EU for the Moldovan citizens.

Upon the request of the European Commissioner, the Moldovan Deputy Prime-minister explained the position of the Republic of Moldova authorities in respect of the grounds for the deterioration of the relations between Moldova and Romania, as well as the views of Chisinau on the ways to improve them. He had appreciated the European Commission’s availability to examine the opportunities of contribution to the improvement of the relation between the two neighboring countries in the spirit of European values. Andrei Stratan underlined that the relations between Moldova and Romania should be based on principles of mutual respect and non-interference in the internal affairs, so that these should come as a support to the efforts of consolidation of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova.