Moldovan parliament speaker gives speech at Black Sea and Balkans Security Forum

Chisinau, 18 May /MOLDPRES/ - Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu has given a speech at the Black Sea and Balkans Security Forum on the consolidation of Moldova’s resilience in the conditions of a hybrid war on behalf of Russia and on the support the international community can provide to Moldova, the parliament’s communication and public relations department has reported.    
The speaker participated in the Forum in Bucharest online within a discussion focused in the measures of supporting Moldova’s and Ukraine’s European integration by the international community. Attending the event were also President of Romania’s Senate Alina Gorghiu, President of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies Marcel Ciolacu and Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) of Ukraine  Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk.
In his speech, Igor Grosu stressed that the Moldovan authorities had done their utmost to maintain peace and stability in the country, at the same time, helping the refugees from Ukraine. ‘’Presently, about 85,000 Ukrainians ruled to remain in Moldova and we will help them from our poor means and will provide them with every assistance from which our citizens benefit as well,’’ the parliament speaker said.     
Igor Grosu referred also to the fact that, for more than one year, Moldova had been subjected to a hybrid war on behalf of Russia. ‘’During years, we were subjected to energy blackmail and due to the  support of the development partners, we consolidated our energy security and will continue the interconnection projects,’’ Igor Grosu noted.
In his speech at the forum, the parliament speaker also touched upon the progress made by Moldova in the European integration and the agenda of reforms implemented: ‘’The speed with which we move is a good one and we hope that the negotiations on accession to EU for Moldova and Ukraine will start till the end of this year. This would give a stronger impetus to the residents, the backers of the European way to make more efforts on this road,’’ the parliament speaker also said.   
In the context, Igor Grosu reviewed the principal actions carried out by the authorities to consolidate Moldova’s defence capacities and the competent institutions, including in the fight with the propaganda, invoking the assistance provided by the development partners, especially Romania, EU and NATO.   
On 18-19 May, the seventh edition of the Black Sea and Balkans Security Forum is held in Bucharest. This is an international security conference, in regional format, which brings together guests with rich experience from various countries, to discuss the risks, threats and vulnerabilities from the Black Sea and Balkans area.    
Photo: Parliament