Moldovan foreign minister participates in UN forum on crime prevention, criminal justice

Chisinau, 13 April /MOLDPRES/ - Foreign and European Integration Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Natalia Gherman on 12 April attended the high-level segment of the thirteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, held on 12-14 April in Doha (Qatar),the Foreign and European Integration Ministry’s information and media communication service has reported.

The head of the Moldovan diplomacy gave a speech in which she reaffirmed the role of the rule of law in promoting sustainable development and ensuring peace and prosperity throughout the world, a priority Moldova has undertaken to support within the new post -2015 global development agenda.

The Moldovan official stressed the need to strengthen national systems of justice and law enforcement capacities to ensure respect for the rule of law and reduce crime rates.

Furthermore, Deputy Prime Minister Natalia Gherman reconfirmed Moldova’s commitment assumed by signing the Association Agreement with the European Union to reform the justice system, noting the efforts undertaken to this effect, including improving infrastructure and legal services locally and modernising the data collection process. In the same vein, the Moldovan official noted that in February Chisinau hosted an international meeting on strengthening institutional capacities to implement the post-2015 development agenda.

The official concluded that mutual legal assistance, international cooperation and effectiveness of criminal justice institutions remained prerogatives of particular interest in the post-2015 development agenda, to be adopted in New York at the UN summit in September, the Congress in Doha significantly contributing to setting it.

A Moldovan delegation led by Foreign and European Integration Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Natalia Gherman pays an official visit to Qatar on 12-14 April.

(Editor M. Jantovan)