Moldovan defence minister meets NATO Secretary General in Brussels

Chisinau, 24 June /MOLDPRES/ - Moldova and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) share common ideals and values and it is naturally that ties between Moldova and NATO to expand. Acting Defence Minister Viorel Cibotaru made statements to this effect at a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on 23 June.

The two officials reviewed the step of development of Moldova-NATO ties, implementation of Moldova-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan for 2014-2016 and goals taken within Partnership Planning and Review Process. The sides also identified possibilities to provide assistance as to reform security and defence sectors, as well as to strengthen defence capacities of Moldova.

Cibotaru was confident that the implementation of concrete projects, jointly worked out by Moldovan and NATO experts, would contribute to increase defence capacities of Moldova.

Cibotaru voiced hope that today defence ministries of allied states would adopt the Moldova Defence Capacity Building Initiative (DCBI) and reiterated Moldova’s interest in opening a NATO office in Chisinau, which would facilitate the political dialogue and cooperation between Moldova and NATO.

For his part, Jens Stoltenberg underlined that the alliance observes the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Moldova and DCBI approved by allies is meant to support Moldova to strengthen defence capacities in order to be able to defend its ideals and values which it shares jointly with NATO, as well as to face provocations which might occur in the new security environment.

Stoltenberg thanked Moldova for the participation of Moldovan servicemen in the operation led by NATO in Kosovo and underscored that this way Moldova showed that it is a supplier of peace and stability.

(Reporter V. Rusu, Editor M. Jantovan)