Polish, Ukrainian, Moldovan officials broach EU integration

Chisinau, 20 November /MOLDPRES/- Poland and Ukraine back Moldova's European integration path and appreciate the achievements recorded by the country. Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko made the statements at a meeting with Parliament Speaker Igor Corman today, the parliament's communication and public relations department has reported.

"The joint visit by the two presidents to Chisinau is the visit by some friends of Moldova, and we cooperate in different sectors and via various projects. The signing of the Association Agreement and visa free regime for Moldovans are due to the active support on behalf of Poland", Corman said. He thanked for the support offered by the two states. 

Presently, 34 projects are implemented in Moldova, which are financially supported by Poland, amounting to 1.8 million euros. They are designed for infrastructure development, modernisation of the education institutions, regional development and support of small and middle enterprises. Also, Poland has recently provided financial assistance worth 100 million euros for the development of livestock and vegetable industry sector.

Corman launched an initiative meant to set up a parliamentary platform of dialogue within the format - Moldova - Ukraine - Poland. "The dialogue format between the three countries - Poland, Ukraine and Moldova - is efficient and must be developed at parliamentary level, as we are friendly states and we have common interests", Corman said. At the same time, he asked the Polish Sejm to start the ratification of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement by late 2014.

Corman stressed that the project on Moldova's European integration had to become national and be accepted by all citizens, as it represented a guarantor of stability and development of the country. "Only consolidation of society around the national project on European integration and victory over the 30 November parliamentary elections of the healthy political forces, along with the implementation of reforms, are real prerequisites for Moldova's development", he noted.

The Polish and Ukrainian presidents said their visit meant support for Moldova in European integration.

Komorowski said Moldova could take over Poland's experience in European integration. He noted that Poland's EU association had been a difficult process, it needed change of mentality, joint efforts, but generated the increase in citizens' living conditions. "The project on European integration is not streamlined against someone, but it is for the good of Moldovans", he said.

For his part, Poroshenko said Ukraine backed the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Moldova."When Moldova and Ukraine will have a clear perspective, then real prerequisites will be carried out to solve the Transnistrian conflict," he said.

At the same time, the Ukrainian president pointed out that the parliamentary elections in Moldova were very important to the citizens' future, and the political forces from the country must consolidate around the European integration project. 

"Moldova has chances to become a model- country for other states within the Eastern Partnership, as it represents an ambitious project on European integration", he said.

Komorowski and Poroshenko today pay a visit to Moldova.