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Moldovan foreign affairs minister discusses with counterparts from Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia

16:09 | 01.04.2022 Category: Official

Chisinau, 1 April /MOLDPRES/ - Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Nicu Popescu has received his counterparts from Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia: Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Alexander Schallenberg, Foreign Affairs Minister Jan Lipavský and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Ivan Korčok. At the meeting, the four diplomacy heads discussed new opportunities of cooperation as to Moldova’s advancement on the European path following the submission of the application on accession to the European Union, the Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry’s (MAEIE) press service has reported.          

„Our place is in the European Union and the reforms continue – the European integration means resilient institutions, combating corruption, strengthening of the democracy and modernization of Moldova. We prepare for the questionnaire on behalf of the European Commission, which will assess our degree of compatibility with the European Union. This exercise will require a huge institutional effort, in order to systematize the information at all those 33 chapters of accession to EU, including the level of transposition of the European legislation, the policies in force, as well as the needed administrative capacity,’’ Deputy PM Nicu Popescu said.     

The Moldovan official voiced confidence that Moldova’s rapprochement and integration into the European Union would have a new dynamic, including on the period of holding by the Czech Republic of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of this year. In the context, Nicu Popescu expressed the Moldovan authorities’ commitment to work in close connection with the Presidency-in-office and the member states, in order to finish the process of filling in the questionnaire.  

Nicu Popescu also reiterated that one of the central goals on the external stage regarded the boosting of the discussions with the European partners to ensure Moldova’s energy security. The final declaration of the EU Council from 25 March contains the commitment of the member states to jointly buy natural gas, liquefied gas and hydrogen. Thus, the new platform will be available for Moldova and will facilitate the procurements of natural gas in the long run.     

The ministers discussed the regional developments and the security risks, in the context of the war started by Russia in Ukraine. The officials firmly condemned Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, calling on to observe the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the neighbor country. In the context, the interlocutors referred to the humanitarian crisis triggered by this tragic war and the large number of Ukrainian refugees who found shelter in Moldova and, through this country, to European states, including, Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.   

„Our unity and adhesion to the European values and principles were reconfirmed through the huge solidarity which we proved as people and the sincere assistance provided to Ukrainian refugees since the first day of the war. We were not alone. The Team Europe was with us in this humanitarian crisis as well,’’ Minister Nicu Popescu noted.  

The Deputy PM thanked for the support of Austria, which will take over 2,000 refugees directly from Moldova, a process which has already started, with over 300 Ukrainian citizens relocated in Austria. The official also referred to the financial support provided by the Czech Republic for managing the crisis, as well as to the humanitarian assistance delivered to Moldova by Slovakia during a visit to Chisinau by Slovak President Zuzana Čaputova.     

The Moldovan diplomacy head informed his counterparts that the war and the insecurity situation had triggered many challenges in the economic field. Popescu noted that many exporters can no longer sell their products on markets from the East and carriers cannot access the traditional routes from the region, which are closed because of the combat actions. In the context, the diplomats talked about the availability of movement of the road transport of goods through Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia and identifying ways of enhancing the presence of Moldovan products on the markets of these countries.       

„Moldova stays a priority state in the assistance for development on behalf of those three states, benefitting from financing of projects aimed at improving the living standards of the Moldovan citizens.     

We want the backing of infrastructure projects for settlements. Concrete projects for the construction or modernization of water and sewerage supply systems, for the renovation of kindergartens, schools, community centres and other objects of local infrastructure or for developing local business and on energy efficiency,’’ Minister Nicu Popescu said.   

The sides discussed also other alternatives for the benefit of the citizens – a priority subject in this respect represented the possibility of promoting the conclusion of agreements for cutting the costs for roaming with all European Union states and bilaterally with Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.   

„Next week in Berlin, we will discuss with our European friends at the Conference on the support of Moldova, an initiative by Romania, France and Germany, fully backed by Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The creation of this Support Platform is a telling example of solidarity of the international community for the mobilization of a bigger assistance for Moldova in the process of European integration and management of the humanitarian crisis,’’ the Moldovan official added.    

Photo: MAEIE

 

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