Moldovan diplomacy head has meeting with Ukrainian counterpart

Chisinau, 22 October /MOLDPRES/ - The Moldovan diplomacy head, Nicu Popescu, today had a meeting with Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba. The discussions’ agenda was a continuation of the consistent efforts of strengthening the Moldovan-Ukrainian dialogue, which has significantly advanced in the last period due to frequent working contacts between the presidents of the two countries, the Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry’s (MAEIE) press service has reported.   
Deputy Prime Minister Nicu Popescu noted that, along with Ukraine and Georgia, in the Association Trio format, the three state shared a string of goals with the European partners: consolidation of the political and security dialogue with EU, economic and sectoral integration, especially the implementation of the free trade area and integration in the EU domestic market, as well as the digital agenda.  
„I spoke with the foreign affairs minister also about the joint projects meant to better connect the infrastructure of both countries, one of which is the construction of the road bridge across the Dniester river nearby the Cosauti and Yampil settlements. The bridge will ensure a corridor of transiting Moldova’s territory to the European Union, including will reduce considerably the time of travel from Chisinau to Kiev. The working group will meet as early as in the first half of next November, in order to advance this strategic project,’’ Minister Nicu Popescu said at a news conference in Kiev.  
Foreign affairs ministers Nicu Popescu and Dmytro Kuleba lighted the intention to identify concrete solutions for each citizen, with a step to this effect being the cutting of the roaming tariffs between the states and promoting this goal with the European Union as well.  
„We established to boost this initiative on the platform of the Eastern Partnership, as well as to sign, in the near time, with Ukraine, the agreement on mutual travels of citizens based on the biometric identity card, which will facilitate the flows of tourists and the interaction of business people between both states,’’ Nicu Popescu noted.   
The officials referred to the need, in reciprocal interest, to increase the commercial and economic changes, with a forum of business people planned to be held in Chisinau on this purpose.  
„The mutual support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova and Ukraine within the internationally recognized borders is firm,’’ the head of the Moldovan diplomacy, Nicu Popescu said.
At a plenary meeting of the delegations, Deputy PM Nicu Popescu thanked the Ukrainian side for the active position and constructive role of Kiev in the Transnistrian settlement process. He reiterated Moldova’s stance on the support of Ukraine in its efforts to identify political and diplomatic solutions to the conflict in the eastern region of the neighbour country.  
As for the relations between the foreign affairs ministries, the ministers agreed on the cooperation within international and regional organizations, including on the platform of UN, OSCE, Council of Europe. The sides reiterated willingness for a mutual support, in line with the national interests of both states.  
Photo: MAEIE