Moldovan, NATO officials tackle cooperation, support, security

Chisinau, 2 June /MOLDPRES/ - Deputy Foreign and European Integration Minister Andrei Galbur today met members of the NATO Partnerships and Cooperative Security Committee, representatives of the 28 NATO member states, on their first visit to Moldova, the Foreign and European Integration Ministry’s information and media communication service has reported.
The delegation is led by NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia James Appathurai, and it is accompanied by representatives of neutral European states – Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland and Ireland. 
Deputy Minister Andrei Galbur informed about the actions undertaken by the authorities, in order to reform and modernise Moldova’s security and defence sectors, in line with the new developments and requirements of the present security environment, as well as the about the working out of the new National Security Strategy and cooperation with EU in the Common Security and Defence Policy.  
The officials tackled the development of Moldova-NATO cooperation. In the context, they considered actions  due to be undertaken by the sides within more programmes and collaboration areas, among which the Defence Capacity Building Initiative, Moldova-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan, cooperation in fighting new threats to security, as well as completion of the NATO Project on Destruction of Pesticides and Dangerous Chemicals in Moldova.
„The experience of cooperation of neutral European states with NATO is very important for Moldova,” Galbur said. 
For their part, the officials praised the reforms promoted by the Moldovan authorities, which contribute to democratizing and strengthening stability of Moldova, as well as to promoting stability and security in the region and the on the European continent. At the same time, NATO representatives reiterated the support of its states for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova. 
The officials also exchanged views about the developments in the Transnistrian conflict settlement and situation in the region.
(Editor M. Jantovan)