Moldovan president gives reception for members of diplomatic corps accredited in Chisinau

Chisinau, 30 January /MOLDPRES/ - President Nicolae Timofti today gave a reception for the members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Chisinau, on the occasion of the winter holidays, the presidential press service has reported. 

The head of state held the following speech before those present at the event: 

"Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,  

MPs, ministers, 

Your Excellencies, 

Mr and Mrs ambassadors,

The year which has past since our last meeting was a one of reference in Moldova's self-assertion on the international stage and strengthening its course of development in the family of European nations.

In a difficult regional security contest, with challenges to Moldova's security and stability, we have managed to advance substantially in our relations with the European union.

By getting the liberalised visa regime with the European Union member states, through signing, ratification and enforcement of the Association Agreement, including the Free Trade Area with the European Union, we have passed a decisive stage in the process of our country's integration into the European Union. 

I should say that this process is due, first of all, to the solid support we have received from the European Union member states, United States of America, other partners, both in the political sector and in efforts of modernising the country.

We rely on the political support of our European partners within the Eastern Partnership  Summit, due in Riga, with a view of reconfirming the European prospect of Moldova.  

The implementation of the provisions of the Association Agreement remains our major national objective in 2015-2016. We will act with perseverance in fulfilling all the stage tasks. 

The backing of the European Union member states and the development partners, in order to achieve a wide range of sectoral goals, will contribute to Moldova's integration into the domestic market of the European union. 

In 2014, the relations with the neighbour countries, Romania and Ukraine, evolved, and they will remain a priority of our foreign policy.

The Moldovan-Romanian relations have advanced substantially via enforcing the priorities on the bilateral agenda and carrying out many economic and social projects.

We laid the foundations of the energy inter-connection with the European area by the inauguration of the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline.

Romania is one of our main trade and economic partners, and a precious promoter of Moldova's European cause. 

The political dialogue with Ukraine has been fostered considerably.

Being an important factor in the regional security and cooperation, we further count on an active role of Ukraine in the Transnistrian problem settlement   process. At the same time, I would like to express, with deep grief, our worry about the dramatic development of the events in the south-eastern regions of Ukraine. 

On this period of great ordeal for the people of Ukraine, I want to reiterate our message of solidarity and support for the taken efforts, with the participation of international partners, in order to identify a peaceful solution to the crisis, without interference from abroad, by observing the principles of sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine. 

The bilateral relations between our country and the United States witnessed an ascendant development, and were marked by the consolidation of the high-level political dialogue, both on the governmental dimension and the one of the legislative forums. 

The launch of the Strategic Dialogue in 2014 and the deepening of the dialogue with the American Congress boosted also the commercial and economic dimension of the cooperation. 

In 2014, the bilateral ties between the United States and Moldova advanced to a profound level of bilateral commitment and mutual interest. 

We will maintain the same ascendant course of relations with the American partners. 

I take advantage of the occasion to welcome the new Ambassador of the United States of America, His Excellency Mr James Pettit, who presented me the accreditation letters today. 

I want to highlight the fruitful political dialogue and continuous development of the economic relations with Belarus, Turkey, Israel, People's republic of China, Japan and South Korea.  

We are set to fully turn to account the potential of cooperation with these countries, as well as with other emerging global and regional factors. 

I would like to mention, in particular, the intention of Moldova and Japan to open, on reciprocity basis, the embassies of our countries in Tokyo and Chisinau during this and the next years. 

The Russian Federation remains an important political, trade and economic partner for our country. 

We will continue efforts, at the political level and the one of the competent ministries, to overcome the artificially raised blockages in several sectors of our traditional cooperation. 

In the last year, the diplomatic service took a solid effort to strengthen the legal framework of the bilateral relations, and the sides managed to liberalise the visa regime with a string of states, such as Turkey, State of Israel, Montenegro and Albania. 

We carried out considerable work to consolidate the capacities of interaction and support for the Moldovan Diaspora, extend the network of career consulates and honorary consuls of Moldova, to provide assistance to our citizens in crisis situations.

We will continue providing special attention to the multi-dimensional cooperation within relevant international organisations, such as the United Nations, OSCE and Council of Europe.     

In a more and more complex and inter-connected international environment, we ascertained that it is important to deepen the political dialogue and practical cooperation with NATO, with emphasis put on the reformation and modernisation of the country's security and defense sector.

Thus, in March 2014, Moldova detached a contingent of 41 servicemen to the KFOR operation in Kosovo.

Also, at the NATO Summit in Wales, our country  joined the  Defence Capacities Initiative and Inter-operability Platform.

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,   

The Transnistrian conflict settlement remains a priority objective, with our efforts focused on the creation of friendly conditions for identifying a solution, by observing the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova. 

An indispensable pre-requisite of this process must be the completion of the withdrawal of Russia's troops and stocks of ammunition from Moldova, as they do not have the consent of the host country, as well as to turn the peacekeeping operation from the Security Zone into a civilian mission with an appropriate international mandate.

Only in this way,  we will be able to build, along with our compatriots living in the Transnistrian region, a democratic, European country, that will guarantee the fundamental human rights and freedoms. 

In the end, I want to voice confidence that, in the nearest future, the parliament will give a vote of confidence to the new government, that will continue the policies of Moldova's Europeanisation, and this is, according to my strong belief, the only way of the country's flourishing.  

Thank you."