Moldovan foreign affairs minister has meeting with counterpart of France

Chisinau, 3 March /MOLDPRES/ - Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Nicu Popescu today had a meeting with Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Jean Yves Le Drian, on a visit to Chisinau, as a sign of support for Moldova, in the context of the efforts of management of the crisis of refugees, the Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry’s (MAEIE) press service has reported.   

„I am happy to see again in Chisinau today my French counterpart Jean-Yves Le, who visits our country the second time in my mandate of minister and I hugely appreciate the firm and consistent support of France in the context of the complex and difficult regional context,’’ Minister Nicu Popescu said.    

Nicu Popescu said that the solidarity of the Moldovans with the refugees from Ukraine was seen, appreciated and respected by the entire world.

„Since the moment of the starting of the war in Ukraine, over 136,000 Ukrainians took refuge in Moldova; 76,000 left for European countries and over 60,000 people are hosted in the country’s towns and communes. Although we are neutral a state, we cannot be indifferent,’’ the Moldovan diplomacy head said.  

At a news conference held by Minister Nicu Popescu, along with Interior Minister Ana Revenco, the Moldovan officials thanked Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic for the fact that, this time too, the friendship of France and European Union was proved by the prompt answer and the providing of the first donation of about 40 tons of humanitarian assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, which will arrive Moldova in the nearest time, as well as for the commitment and efforts for backing Moldova’s European project.   

The meeting occasioned discussions on the internal and external economic challenges, including for the companies which export products outside the country. The interlocutors agreed on the identification, through joint efforts, of possibilities to redirect these products to other markets, including the French one.  

The Moldovan official said the discussions had been solid and aimed at priorities and expectations of the national authorities and the citizens dealing with the bilateral and European agenda, including in the context of France holding the Presidency of the European Union. As for the European agenda, Nicu Popescu said that Moldova’s future was is in the European Union.

„I want to remind the reasons for which Moldova firmly chose the European integration way: Europe means freedom. It is a force of the supremacy of law, of respect for human dignity and of freedom, in which we firmly believe. Europe means solidarity. Today, I thank France and EU for solidarity and support. Europe means peace. We need peace in our region,’’ the Moldovan diplomacy head said.    

Photo: MAEIE