​VICTORIA NULAND PROMISES VLAD PLAHOTNIUC AMERICA’S SUPPORT FOR REFORMS IN MOLDOVA

Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland has promised to the Moldovan oligarch, First Deputy Chairman of the Democratic Party Vlad Plahotniuc to support reforms in Moldova, the Moldovan Democratic Party wrote in its press release on Tuesday.

According to it, Victoria Nuland pointed out the results reached by the Moldovan ruling coalition during the first months of its work. She said, “Keep working in the same pace, and we will support you”, and the need for the Moldovan Government to act consistently on its path of reforms.

Victoria Nuland said the U.S. Department of State stands ready to delegate to Chisinau a team of experts in key spheres so that to help the Filip Government realize projected reforms.

According to the Party’s press release, Vlad Plahotniuc stressed the governing coalition’s resolution to implement the reforms and ensure stability in the country.

“I want to highlight my determination and the parliamentary majority’s commitment to reforming Moldovan state institutions. We intend to modernize our state so that it would correspond to the goal we have set and to our citizens’ need for a light future. We shall do everything necessary for the Republic of Moldova to develop economically and socially”, Vlad Plahotniuc stated on behalf of the ruling coalition.

The meeting with Victoria Nuland, held in the U.S. Department of State, was attended by US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Bridget A. Brink, who visited Moldova not long before and took part in consultations of the stakeholders in the 5+2 format negotiations on Transnistrian conflict settlement.

According to the DPM press release, Vlad Plahotniuc is paying a working visit to the United States on the invitation of the Atlantic Council. He has already met with several experts from the Council and discussed with them the economic measures and reforms undertaken by the Moldovan authorities.

Plahotniuc will yet have meetings at other important U.S. institutions as well as meetings with civil society representatives and potential American investors. Besides this, he will take part as a guest in the Atlantic Council’s most important annual event – the ceremony of handing in Distinguished Leadership Awards given to leading personalities in the fields of politics, business, arts and humanitarian activities that have achieved outstanding successes in promoting relations between Europe and the United States.

The DPM press release said that Vlad Plahotniuc went to Washington as the Executive Coordinator of the Moldovan governing coalition, though nobody seems to have an idea about such a post. Immediately upon hearing the post name, Moldovan journalists began asking parliamentarians about such a new position in the governing coalition, but even the members of the Moldovan Parliament know nothing of the post. The journalists went further – asked comments from the U.S. Embassy to Moldova, but the diplomatic mission said that Vlad Plahotniuc is a member of the official Moldovan delegation led by the Moldovan Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy Octavian Calmic.

The incumbent Government of Moldova was formed on January 20, 2016 following a lengthy governmental crisis that could well lead to an early parliamentary election. The decision to form the new governing coalition was taken a few days after Victoria Nuland’s visit to Bucharest, where she discussed the situation in Moldova with the Romanian leadership.

Nuland stated then that the United States is interested in the formation of a pro-European government in Moldova that would concentrate on the implementation of reforms and on realization of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement. Victoria Nuland then spoke out against an early parliamentary election that could bring pro-Russia forces into power in Moldova.