PM says Moldovan government focused on strengthening security agenda, growth of economic development

Chisinau, 18 May /MOLDPRES/ - The present security situation in the region, following Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine, as well as the measures of consolidation of the defence capacities and of response to the hybrid actions today were discussed at the Black Sea and Balkans Security Forum, held in Bucharest. Attending the event were Prime Minister Dorin Recean and PM of Romania Nicolae Ciuca, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.      
At the discussion titled, Security challenges in the Black Sea region. Enhancing the resilience of the states hit by the present crisis through cooperation, the two prime ministers referred to the priorities to ensure the regional security and stability. In this respect, the PMs set the need to boost the cooperation in the current security context, in order to diminish, for people’s benefit, the impact of the crisis in the energy and economic sectors, felt in the wake of the war in the neighbour country.     
Prime Minister Dorin Recean said the government was focused on the consolidation of Moldova’s security agenda, in parallel with the growth of the economic development.   
„We have well-prepared institutions to cope with the hybrid challenges, propaganda, false narratives, attempts to induce tensions between the ethnic groups of Moldova, including the provocations organized against the refugees from Ukraine. We increased the budget in the defense sector, as we understood that the neutrality status cannot defend us, if it is not respected, just as Russia does it. We therefore have the goal and  the obligation to explain to the society what the defence capacity means. I will personally continue to inform the society, to have discussions, to  explain and at a certain moment, to ask the society in which direction we should move on this way,’’ PM Dorin Recean said.    
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca touched upon the necessity to focus efforts on backing Ukraine to overcome the destructive consequences of the war, as well as Moldova, affected by its consequences.  
„Given that Prime Minister Dorin Recean is here, with whom I had a discussion today morning, I say you that, at a cabinet meeting on 17 May, we approved a memorandum, under which the structures of the Energy Ministry and such companies as Transgaz, Transelectrica will better formally shape the interconnection of gas and energy between Romania and Moldova,’’ the Romanian prime minister noted.    
On the sidelines of the forum, the counterparts discussed the projects underway and set priorities of strengthening the bilateral Moldovan-Romanian agenda in key sectors. PM Dorin Recean thanked the Romanian counterpart for Romania’s constant support.    
„Bucharest promptly responded and gave us a helping hand, when we needed it. Due to the support of our friends from the collective West, we consolidated our country’s energy security and managed to quickly advance on the European agenda,’’ Prime Minister Dorin Recean stressed.      
PM Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca reiterated Romania’s firm support for Moldova’s European integration path and thanked the Moldovan authorities for the effort they make to ensure the peace and stability at the Moldovan-Ukrainian border.  
Photo: Government