Chisinau, 13 November /MOLDPRES/ - Parliament Speaker and acting President Mihai Ghimpu met French Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Pierre Lellouche on 12 November, the parliament's mass media relations department has said.

Participating in the discussions were the head of the group of friendship with Moldova of the National Assembly of France, Claude Greff, the director for Continental Europe, Roland Galharague, and French Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Moldova Pierre Andrieu. The French delegation is on a working visit to Moldova to turn to account the potential of bilateral relations. The visit also fits into the context of deepening Moldova-EU ties. The sides focused on Moldova's European prospects.

"We give priority to the development of cooperation relations with France, both at bilateral level and within the Francophonie, but especially at international level, and we thank you for the constant support supplied to Moldova," Ghimpu said at the beginning of the meeting.

The parliament speaker expressed confidence that Moldova's present leadership will foster the Moldovan-French cooperation relations. He stressed interest in increasing the French investments in Moldova's economy and implementing viable investment projects. Mihai Ghimpu gave assurances that the Moldovan authorities will undertake concrete actions to carry out a string of democratic reforms to ensure adequate economic and social climate.

Referring to the existence of a large community of Moldovans studying or working in France, the president asked for compatriots' support to liberalise the visa regime for the Moldovan citizens. President Mihai Ghimpu said that he relies on the support of France in the process of Moldova's European integration, given that, according to opinion polls, about 70 per cent of the citizens want to join the EU. Ghimpu specified that the current leadership will make efforts so that Moldova become a member of the great family of European nations, as this is the objective announced by the Alliance for European Integration as well.

Pierre Lellouche said that he keeps a close eye on democratic changes in Moldova and the government's efforts to adjust the national juridical framework to the European standards. The French diplomat gave assurances that Moldova will benefit from the backing of France to cover the European path and meet the democratic aspirations. Pierre Lellouche welcomed the launch of negotiations on the signing of an association agreement with the EU.

At the end of the meeting, the sides exchanged opinions on the current situation in Moldova, especially in the social, economic and political fields, as well as prospects for overcoming the present deadlock.