Additional protocol on financial assistance between Romanian, Moldovan governments signed in Chisinau

Chisinau, 27 August /MOLDPRES/- Prime Minister Valeriu Strelet and his Romanian counterpart, Victor Ponta, today signed an additional protocol on financial assistance between Romanian and Moldovan governments, the government's communication and media relations department has reported.

The document refers to the agreement on implementing programme on technical and financial assistance based on a non-refundable financial aid worth 100 million euros provided by Romania to Moldova. It sees extending the term of the agreement for a four-year period. The signing of the protocol took place within the visit paid by Ponta to Chisinau.

Strelet thanked the Romanian government for support, pointing out the most important results achieved in the energy infrastructure. "The launch of the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline, signing of memorandum of understanding on implementing projects on interconnection of gas and electricity network between Moldova and Romania are elements encouraging us to advance and complete the other stages of interconnection of our country to the European energy market", he said.

Strelet highly appreciated Romania's financial and technical contribution provided to Moldova, as well as including Moldova as main beneficiary of assistance for development offered by the Romanian government.  

For his part, Ponta reiterated the importance of diversifying electricity and gas resources, referring to the launch of the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline. "Romania is obliged to do concrete things, so that the projects under development should be implemented. The today's agreement is a continuation of the habit of investing budgetary money in Moldova", he said.

Ponta invited the Moldovan cabinet to Bucharest in December to offer the next instalment from the 100 million euros. "Now we have the possibility to help you. You have to identify sectors in which you want to use the money", he said.

The agreement between Moldovan and Romanian governments on implementing technical and financial assistance programme based on a non-refundable financial aid worth 100 million euros offered by Romania was signed in Bucharest on 27 April 2010. Under the document, Romania implements projects meant to contribute to developing such sectors as: infrastructure, education and energy. In 2011-2014, out of the 100 million euros, 37.19 million euros had been used to implement projects in energy, education, as well as emergency aid in case of natural disasters.

(Editor A. Răileanu)