Moldovan, Romanian premiers make statements

Chisinau, 22 September /MOLDPRES/-Statements made by Prime Minister Valeriu Strelet and his Romanian counterpart Victor Ponta at the beginning of the joint meeting of the Moldovan and Romanian governments.

Victor Ponta: It is a great honor to us to host this new joint government meeting. Surely, I believe that starting from today, we have to think about the next meeting you will organize it in Moldova. Yet, beyond the friendship, warm feelings, after the today’s meeting, I would like to announce concrete and important things for people living in both banks of the Prut river. There are confrontations and important problems for those governing in Chisinay and Bucharest, but I want to say that when you need help, first of all, I want you to find it in Romania and Brussels and in Washington and everywhere. I want to discuss today all issues on the working agenda as regards the joint projects in all fields. I want to say it again that you are welcome, our closest friends and brothers, and we are together to go over all difficulties more easily. Mr. Prime Minister, welcome once again and every success in difficult task you have.

Valeriu Streleţ: Thank you very much! You Excellency, Mr. Premier, dear colleagues, Romanian cabinet members, dear colleagues members of Moldovan government, first of all, I would like to thank you very much for this initiative and excellent organization and comfort you have ensured to get here, elements that must be appreciated and maintained in our communication in the future. We ascertain with a special satisfaction the significant development and diversification of our bilateral relations in the context of the strategic partnership for Moldova’s European integration, especially, during the last five years, and this denotes the role Romania has in backing Moldova’s European integration and encouraging our aspirations we have in this way. I found that Romania is a consistent support of Moldova to advance in democratic and positive transformations, and to advance in its modernization way. I feel free to say that rapprochement with Romania is rapprochement with Europe. This is the creed of the government I lead with the mention that European integration further remains a priority of Moldovan government and we will follow faithfully this path.

We are deeply grateful for all the bilateral projects which were backed by the Romanian government, highlighting especially modernization of kindergartens in Moldova, implementation of SMURD service in Moldova, restoration of the Mother and Child Care Centre and other very important processes.

We have all the openness and incentives to deepen our partnerships in the sectors that we are going to tackle today, especially, related to interconnections in energy sector, Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline, electrical interconnections to Vulcanesti-Isaccea, Balti-Ungheni, and we realize that these projects are meant to reduce or exclude Moldova’s dependence on the Eastern old system and ensure a sustainability of its European integration. I take the opportunity of thanking you for openness to provide us financial support in a crucial period for Moldova. We realize that the effort for reform will have success when we will be backed in these petitions, including in finance, by the most loyal friends of Moldova in the context that we share together a joint space of value, culture and civilization.

We are firmly sure that the today’s meeting will offer the opportunity to further strengthen our bilateral relations, and given that Romania has become the main trade partner of Moldova, under the 2014 data, the trade exchanges exceeded 1.2 billion dollars, we want Romania to become the main investor or at least be on the top of the first three investors of Moldova.

Your Excellency, Mr. Prime Minister, thanks for this initiative and I support the idea of institutionalizing these joint meetings, intergovernmental meetings, meant to get us closer further and to consolidate good relations we have. Thanks again and we wish success to the today’s meeting.

Victor Ponta: Thanks again. There are few countries in the world able to have a meeting of two governments, speak the same language and have the same colors….If we managed to be independent from the energy viewpoint, you must have the same goal. So, what is good for you, for us is the same, there are no other interests of great powers. Romania is not great power, but it is a country that can back you and must do it further. Thanks.