ROMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT IN CHISINAU AT CRUCIAL MOMENT WORKS AGAINST MOLDOVA’S INTERESTS

Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu believes that the recent change of government in Moldova went contrary to the republic’s interests. He stated this during his meeting with Moldovan Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Aurel Ciocoi held on the sidelines of the 26th annual OSCE ministerial summit in Bratislava.

Bogdan Aurescu underscored the serious problems that appeared due to the change of government that took place on the Party of Socialists’ initiative. Such changes at a moment crucial for the justice reform are running contrary to the interests of the Republic of Moldova and its citizens in a medium- and long-term perspective, said the Romanian Foreign Ministry’s press release.

Minister Aurescu pointed out “the tangible progress achieved by Moldova over the 5 months of Maia Sandu’s governance in conducting reforms necessary for approximation with the European Union to promote democratic values, the supremacy of law, struggle against corruption and ensuring of the independence of the judiciary, as well as in the economic and social spheres”.

“In the conditions of a changed government in Chisinau, the support provided by foreign development partners must be re-estimated and strictly conditioned. It has to be corrected in accordance with the new Socialist Government’s real commitment to continuation of projected reforms, particularly what concern justice and public administration, in strict accordance with the EU-Moldova Association Agreement, the Program of cooperation with the IMF, with the observance of the principles of democracy and of a law-governed state”, stated Bogdan Aurescu.

In that context, the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed that Romania’s support, including financial assistance, cannot be continued in initially expected parameters and it will be re-oriented depending the concrete actions of the new Moldovan Government to be based on bilateral strategic partnership and promotion of the Republic of Moldova’s European integration process.

“The assistance will be strictly conditioned by the continuation of real reforms for Moldova’s democratic development for continuing its European path. Romania’s assistance will be further pursuing primarily the interests of Republic of Moldova citizens and will be concentrated on the local level and, from the other side, will be aimed at continuation of the realization of bilateral projects of strategic cooperation”, said the Romanian Minister.

He also highlighted Romania’s special interest to Transnistrian conflict settlement “on condition that the Republic of Moldova’s territorial integrity is respected, that its European future is not affected, and proceeding from the assumption that this conflict has a direct relation to the security of Romania as a member state of the European Union and NATO”.

In his address to the OSCE summit, Bogdan Aurescu stressed the need to withdraw foreign troops and weapons from the Republic of Moldova territory in conformity with international law norms and the commitments taken earlier [by Russia] within the OSCE frames.

The press service of the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration has also reported about the meeting of the Moldovan and Romanian foreign ministers, writing that “the interlocutors discussed the current state of bilateral relations and the perspectives of their development”.

“The replacement of the Sandu Government with a new technocratic government in the current political conditions, being a part of the democratic process, should in no way have a negative influence on the development of the privileged relations between the two neighbor states, which the new Moldovan Government is trying to broaden and deepen on the basis of a bilateral strategic partnership”, stated Aurel Ciocoi.

He reaffirmed Moldova’s being interested in receiving Romania’s further support for a full realization of the reforms stipulated by the EU-Moldova Association Agreement, including the ones pertaining to the supremacy of law, independence of the judiciary and struggle against corruption.

Aurel Ciocoi also spoke out for continuation of current projects and for starting new ones in the social sphere, energy sector, infrastructure development, culture etc. “which should promote the raising of citizens’ living standards and ensure the Republic of Moldova’s energy security”.