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Key moments of Prime Minister's visit to United States

14:55 | 21.09.2019 Category: Official

Chisinau, 21 September /MOLDPRES/- On 18-19 September, Prime Minister Maia Sandu was on an official visit to the United States. At a press conference, the prime minister presented the most important moments of the visit and results, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.

During the official meeting with Mike Pence, the US Vice President expressed full support for the Government led by Maia Sandu and democratic reform agenda promoted by the government in Chisinau.

"We are with you. The United States will continue to be a strong partner for Moldova's democratic transformation, regional security and economic development. We admire the energy you fight against corruption and the integrity you show, "said Mike Pence.

The US official noted that the US has supported the peaceful transmission of power and will continue to be a loyal supporter of Moldova’s democratic transformation and the restoration of the rule of law and the integrity of public institutions must remain major goals for the new government.

Maia Sandu spoke about the reforms implemented by the government, ensuring the conditions for free and fair elections and dismantling the political regime inherited from the former government. The prime minister called for the support of the US authorities, including the FBI, CIA and the Justice Department in investigating the bank robbery case, as well as freezing assets in the US of the persons involved in the robbery. Mike Pence said the US authorities would consider Moldova's request to investigate this case.

Maia Sandu noted that European integration remains the basic goal of the government, and cooperation with the USA, in several areas, including the good governance, defense and security sectors, are strategic priorities for the Republic of Moldova. Also, the premier said that at present, there are no favorable conditions for the political settlement of the Transnistrian conflict, and a possible political solution should not jeopardize the goal of European integration of the Republic of Moldova.

Maia Sandu met at the White House with Ivanka Trump, the advisor to the US President, who said that Maia Sandu is a leader who inspired and appreciated the successes of the new government in Chisinau. The official pointed out the importance of implementing reforms, no matter how difficult, and combating corruption.

Another topic discussed with Ivanka Trump was the importance of creating tools to promote women's involvement in politics and to ensure equal economic opportunities for all citizens. In this context, it was mentioned the possibility of accessing the funds from the new instrument of the White House, called the Initiative for Global Development and Prosperity of Women (WGDPI).

At a meeting with Tim Morrison, special assistant to the US president and member of the National Security Council, one of the key topics was the theft case in the banking system. Maia Sandu requested the support of the US authorities in investigating money laundering and theft billions, as well as in capturing the guilty and recovering the stolen goods. Tim Morrison provided assurances of support and cooperation from US law enforcement in this regard. The official stressed the importance of the rule of law and said that these persons should be brought to justice if there is evidence that they were involved in criminal activities.

Tim Morrison expressed support for the pro-European path of the Republic of Moldova and said that the US respects the sovereignty of our country and appreciates the good relations with Romania and Ukraine.

Sandu discussed in Washington, D.C. with Justin Muzinich, deputy secretary of the US Treasury Department, about our country's progress towards reforms and the authorities' efforts to strengthen dialogue with external partners.

Justin Muzinich said he admired the courage of the Prime Minister in taking on the challenge of cleaning the country's institutions and building a truly democratic state. The official added that reforms in the financial field and strengthening of the fiscal institutions of the Republic of Moldova are needed. There was also talk about the need to adopt an investment verification tool from the perspective of security problems, an example that our country could take from the neighbors in Ukraine.

The agenda for strengthening state institutions and democratic processes was discussed by Prime Minister Maia Sandu with USAID fund manager Mark Green.

 

Maia Sandu thanked Mark Green for the support provided by the USA to our country over the years and for the concrete projects implemented in our country with the help of USAID.

 

Mark Green appreciated the reforms undertaken in Chisinau, noting that the US will provide full support to the Sandu Government. He said the fight against corruption is essential, especially to attract investors and boost economic development and to establish the rule of law in our country. The promotion of women in business was also discussed, an essential factor for a modern and developed society.

USAID implements several activities in the Republic of Moldova in areas such as sustainable development, civil society development and mass media. Mark Green said there is willingness to provide the necessary support in any of the priority areas identified by the Government.

Sandu had a meeting with David L. Norquist, deputy secretary of the US Defense. The officials approached the regional situation in the security and defense, the priorities of the Moldovan Government, the situation in the defense sector and the Moldovan-American cooperation on the military dimension.

David L. Norquist said that the US had excellent cooperation with the National Army of Moldova and is ready to support military cooperation through financial assistance, pointing out that recent military exercises in North Carolina have been very productive.

Maia Sandu spoke about the current priorities of the government in combating corruption and ensuring decision-making transparency and reiterated intention to support cooperation between the defense and security institutions of the two countries.

The two officials agreed they will continue and deepen the military partnership of the countries and the collaboration in the fight corruption, disinformation and propaganda, fight against money laundering and the recovery of stolen goods.

Other topics discussed were cyber security, military programs and exercises; US participation in monitoring the ammunition destruction process at the Cobasna depot.

Sandu met in Washington with Congressmen Pete Olson and David Price, co-chairs of the Political Support Group for the Republic of Moldova in the US Congress.

David Price said that the United States will continue to support the Republic of Moldova and that it is necessary to demonstrate that visible progress has been made in the area of democratization, and the local elections in October should be an example in this regard.

"We will appreciate the adoption by the US Congress of a bilateral resolution in support of the democratic transformation of Moldova," said Maia Sandu. The prime minister requested the support of the United States of America in the investigation of bank fraud and support for independent media in the Republic of Moldova.

Sandu met with the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives, Eliot Engel. They discussed the strategic priorities of the Republic of Moldova in the field of internal policies, as well as the cooperation relations in the Eastern Europe region.

They also addressed the possibility of holding a hearing, which would provide visibility in the federal capital and would inform US lawmakers about the reforms undertaken by the Government of Chisinau.

Maia Sandu also met with Damian Murphy, a member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The two officials discussed the main directions of action of the Chisinau Government and the concrete areas in which the US could provide support to our country.

The Prime Minister participated in an event organized by the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute, and broached the priorities on the government agenda, the achievements registered in the process of de-oligarchization and implementation of the main reforms, the challenges that the government faces, as well as the political situation in Chisinau.

A meeting between the official delegation of the Republic of Moldova and the diaspora was held in Washington D.C. The most important topics addressed were the involvement of the US scientific diaspora in the development of the Republic of Moldova, the current situation in the education system in the Republic of Moldova, the Transnistrian conflict settlement and the preservation of the pro-European vector as the only way for the country's development.

The visit to Washington D.C. is part of a series of events aimed at boosting relations between the USA and the Republic of Moldova. Earlier, the visit of Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu to Washington D.C., the visit to Chisinau of the US Under-Secretary of State, David Hale and John Bolton, the advisor to the US President for National Security, and the visit of the official delegation of the Republic of Moldova on September 18-19 show the desire of the parties to turn to good account the partnership relationship between the two countries.

The official delegation was made up of Prime Minister Maia Sandu; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs Andrei Nastase; Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nicu Popescu; Minister of Finance Natalia Gavrilița; the adviser of the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and Strategic Planning, Vlad Kulminski; advisor to the Prime Minister on Security and Defense Victoria Roşa; Secretary of State of the Ministry of Finance Dinu Toderașcu and State Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Sergiu Luca.

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