Chisinau, 10 October /MOLDPRES/ - Romania will ensure a simplified visa regime for Moldovan citizens starting 1 January 2007. Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu made statements to this effect after a 10 October bilateral meeting with Moldovan Premier Vasile Tarlev, MOLDPRES special correspondent has reported from Bucharest.

Popescu-Tariceanu said the visas will be issued free of charge, urgently and without any additional documents. At the same time, the holders of business and diplomatic passports will need no visa to enter Romania, he said.

"The Romanian and Moldovan foreign ministers are to sign soon such an intergovernmental visa agreement," Popescu-Tariceanu said.

Popescu-Tariceanu reiterated that Moldova can count on Romania's support in the process of joining the European Union (EU). "Romania will offer Moldova the assessment of the Romania-EU negotiating process, in order to facilitate the initiation of negotiations between Moldova and the EU. We wish that Moldova concludes an association agreement with the EU, similar to Romania's one," he said.

Popescu-Tariceanu said that the Moldovan-Romanian relations have to be strengthened on the political as well as economic and cultural fields. "We wish that our countries' future projects allow Moldova getting closer to the EU, on one hand, and to take advantage of Moldova's strategic position on Russia, in order to use the Russian market in the benefit of the EU member states,on the other hand," the Romanian official said.

Referring to the Transnistrian conflict, the Romanian premier said that it has to be settled "in the European spirit," and not to affect Moldova's integrity and sovereignty.

The Moldovan and Romanian premiers agreed to organize an intergovernmental meeting in 2007, to consider projects of mutual interest.

Moldovan Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev paid a one-day visit to Bucharest, in order to sign the Charter on good-neighbourly relations, stability, security and cooperation in South-Eastern Europe.