​POROSHENKO SAYS MOLDOVA’S INTEGRATION INTO EUROPE WILL PROMOTE TRANSNISTRIAN CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko believes that Moldova’s and Ukraine’s integration into the European Union will promote the settlement of the protracted Transnistrian conflict.

On Thursday, Poroshenko – together with his Polish counterpart Bronislaw Komorowski – held a meeting with Moldovan Parliament Chairman Igor Corman during which he said that Ukraine and Moldova have many common issues and tasks to handle.

“When our countries advance substantially on our Euro-integration path and receive a clear European perspective, then realistic perspectives for solving the Transnistrian conflict will appear as well”, stated Petro Poroshenko.

The Ukrainian leader stressed that the forthcoming parliamentary election in Moldova is tremendously important for the future of the republic and its citizens, and that Moldovan political forces ought to get united around the European integration project.

“Moldova has a chance to become a country exemplary for other Eastern Partnership countries to follow because you have the most ambitious European integration project”, said Petro Poroshenko.

Moldovan Speaker Igor Corman stressed that the European integration project must become of national importance for all citizens of Moldova.

“All citizens ought to back this project that is a guarantee of stability and development for the country. Only consolidation of the society and a victory of healthy political forces at November 30 elections, along with reforms continuation, will let achieve modernization of the Republic of Moldova and step up living standards. The advantages of European integration must be available to all citizens of Moldova, including those who live of the left Dniester River bank”, said the Parliament Chairman.

Igor Corman highlighted the special backing, which Moldova receives continuously from Poland on the Euro-integration path. In his words, there are 34 joint projects being implemented in Moldova presently thanks to Poland’s valuable financial assistance totaling 1.8 million euros in the fields of regional and infrastructure development, modernization of educational institutions, support for small and medium enterprises etc. Besides this, Poland has allotted 100 million euros for the development of animal husbandry and food processing industry in Moldova.

Speaking of the European integration process, President Bronislaw Komorowski said Moldova is welcome to borrow Poland’s experience in this domain.

“Our accession to the European Union was a complicated process that required changing of mentality and a great effort. However, all that has led to higher living standards in the country. The European integration project is not aimed against anybody. It is aimed for the good of Republic of Moldova citizens”, said the President of Poland.

Igor Corman suggested creating a tripartite platform of parliamentary dialog Moldova-Ukraine-Poland. He requested Bronislaw Komorowski to promote a soonest-possible ratification of the EU-RM Association Agreement by the Sejm [the lower house of parliament in Poland].

The Association Agreement was signed last June 27. It has been ratified by the Moldovan Parliament and the European Parliament, and even started working last September 1. However, it has to be yet ratified by all the 28 member countries of the European Union. So far, however, it has been ratified only by 7 nations – Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Malta, Bulgaria and Slovakia.