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Latvia firmly supports Moldova’s reforms and moving closer to the EU

BC, Riga, 27.03.2015.Print version
On 26 March, during his working visit to Chisinau, the Latvian Foreign Minister, Edgars Rinkevics, met with the Prime Minister of Moldova, Chiril Gaburici, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Natalia Gherman to discuss the relations between the European Union and Moldova in the context of the Riga Summit, the internal political situation in Moldova, bilateral cooperation between Latvia and Moldova, and developments in the region, reported BC Latvian MFA.

Edgars Rinkevics and Natalia Gherman. Chisinau, 26.03.2015. Photo: flickr.com

At the beginning of the meeting, Edgars Rinkevics congratulated the new government of Moldova and Prime Minister Gaburici on assuming office and wished them strong political will in implementing reforms and modernising the country.

 

Edgars Rinkevics emphasised that Moldova is one of the six Eastern Partnership countries which has expended a great deal of practical effort on its course of integration with the EU. The Foreign Minister commended the visa-free regime between Moldova and the Schengen Area countries.

 

"The Riga Summit will take place under new geopolitical environment due to Russia's aggression in Ukraine; however, the Eastern Partnership countries which have signed Association Agreements with the European Union should be given a clear signal that the EU will continue providing political and practical support – the door to integration with Europe is open. At the same time, this depends on the desire and aspirations of both the government and the general public to carry out the necessary reforms.

 

Therefore, I am satisfied with the initial results of the provisional application of the Association Agreement and the first EU-Moldova Association Council I chaired in Brussels on 16 March. I hope that in advance of the Riga Summit, Moldova will demonstrate significant progress with the implementation of the Association Agreement. It is vital that Moldova move forward with reforms, especially in the fields of justice and finance, the fight against corruption, and improvements in the business and investment environment," the Foreign Minister said.

 

Minister Rinkevics expressed hope that the Moldovan government will be represented at the Riga Summit by high-ranking officials and, at the Eastern Partnership Business Forum to be held in Riga on 21 May, by a large business delegation.

 

"Latvia will continue supporting Moldova's reform process by development cooperation projects on regional development, maritime transport and education, as well as through sharing its experience in the European Union," emphasised Edgars Rinkevics.

 

Edgars Rinkevics also drew attention to the fact that trade between Latvia and Moldova has been increasing in recent years, and therefore, Latvia is interested in further economic cooperation, including within the framework of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement.

 

The Latvian Foreign Minister urged the Moldovan Government to actively build a dialogue with the administration and society of Gagauzia thereby strengthening territorial integrity. Efforts should also be made to seek a peaceful solution to the Transnistrian conflict, while maintaining Moldova's territorial integrity and the special status of Transnistria.

 

In order to become better acquainted with political developments in Moldova and hear the opinions of major political parties, both ruling and opposition, Foreign Minister Rinkevics met with the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, Vlad Filat; the leader of the Democratic Party, Marian Lupu; and the leader of the Communist Party, Vladimir Voronin.






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