Moldovan PM meets Romanian counterpart

Chisinau, 25 August /MOLDPRES/- Prime Minister Pavel Filip today met his Romanian counterpart, Dacian Ciolos, who is on an official visit to Chisinau. Filip said he was sure that Romania was a devoted and close friend of Moldova. The proof is the strategic partnership for European integration and joint project to be together in the EU.

“We had sincere and cordial talks, as well as constructive ones, on the bilateral agenda, and Moldova’s European path,” Filip said.

The premier noted that Romania remained “as most consistent supporter of Moldova, contributing to our aspirations to transform into a European and democratic state.” Filip also said he had agreed with his Romanian counterpart on speeding up energy cooperation next months, which was as a major priority for Moldova, in the context of ensuring energy security. “We will advance both in energy interconnection and gas by extending the gas pipe to Chisinau,” he said.

The European integration is our country project, and the current government and parliamentary coalition unconditionally rely on force of triangle: stability, reforms, integration till 2018. Chisinau “relies on Romania’s valuable expertise meant to essentially facilitate the moments of major importance, advancing European agenda.” Filip thanked for the financial assistance provided by Romania, as well as demarches carried out by Bucharest in Brussels in favor of Moldova.

Filip invited business people from Romania to invest in Moldova, including in the banking and energy sectors.

“Romania remains faithful to Moldova’s support, firstly, in order to ensure prosperity to citizens, to consolidate democracy and to back European integration,” Ciolos said. Romania’s goal for this period is to support “reforms necessary for Moldova in order to ensure prosperity and development.”

It is important that stability should be ensured next period, in order that the reforms should continue, Ciolos said.

Ciolos’ visit to Moldova is the first one he is paying during his mandate. He is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Regional Development and Public Administration Minister Vasile Dincu, Energy Minister Victor Grigorescu, Public Finance Minister Anca Dragu, Justice Minister Raluca Pruna, EU Funds Minister Cristian Ghinea and Minister Delegate for Relation with Romanians Everywhere Maria Ligor.

The premier will also have meetings with President Nicolae Timofti and Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu. Also, there are planned on the agenda bilateral meetings between Romanian ministers and Moldovan counterparts and other officials. Ciolos will meet civil society representatives from Moldova, local authorities and representatives of political formations of parliamentary and non-parliamentary opposition from Chisinau.

Also, Ciolos will visit a kindergarten from Selemet village, Cimislia district, which is included in a programme on rehabilitation and equipping Moldovan kindergartens with technical and financial assistance on behalf of the Romanian government. The visit by the Romanian delegation led by Ciolos is carried out in the context of releasing the first installment of refundable financial assistance amounting to 60 million euros for Moldova.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor M. Jantovan)