Moldovan PM, NATO official tackle cooperation, reforms, projects

Chisinau, 30 April /MOLDPRES/ - Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici met NATO Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges Sorin Ducaru today, the government’s communication and media relations department has reported.

The officials broached topics of common interest, including the opportunity of cooperation between Moldova and the North Atlantic Treaty in fighting new threats to security in the region and deepening the high-level political dialogue. 

The sides also addressed the working out of a new Moldovan national security strategy, in the context of the developments in the region. Gaburici underlined that the Moldovan authorities counted on the support of NATO members in terms of expertise, in order to give final touches to the aforementioned strategy. Chiril Gaburici also highlighted that the government was presently concerned with elaboration of the Strategy of cyber security of Moldova, which would be integral part of the National Security Strategy. „We are responsible for the peace of the Moldovan citizens,” Gaburici said.

Chiril Gaburici welcomed the acceptance of Moldova to two new initiatives launched by NATO during the Wales Summit in September 2014: Defence Capacity Building Initiative and Inter-operability Platform.

The prime minister  also referred to NATO’s support for giving final touches to the project on destruction of expired very hazardous pesticides, stocked in Moldova.

The officials also approached the convening of the Partnerships and Cooperative Security Committee in Chisinau, on 1-4 June 2015; the body is made up of 28 political advisers of the NATO member states missions. This will be first visit of a NATO committee to Moldova, which will contribute to develop bilateral cooperation.

For his part, Sorin Ducaru conveyed to Gaburici a welcoming message on behalf of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, whom Chiril Gaburici met at the NATO General Headquarters in Brussels.

Ducaru praised that the Moldovan authorities gave special importance to the Moldova-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan for 2014-2016. The plans sets cooperation goals in implementing democratic reforms, modernising armed forces, fighting new threats to security and emergency management.

The officials showed interest in opening a NATO Liaison Office in Chisinau as soon as possible, which would facilitate the dialogue and bilateral cooperation in promoting reforms in the security and defence areas, as well as in implementing bilateral projects.

Chiril Gaburici reiterated the invitation for Jens Stoltenberg to visit Moldova this summer.

Sorin Ducaru took over his present office in September 2013.

(Editor A. Raileanu)