Romania, Moldova sign agreement on reimbursable financial assistance

Chisinau, 7 October /MOLDPRES/ - Prime Minister Valeriu Strelet attended the ceremony of signing the Agreement on the reimbursable financial assistance between Romania and Moldova in Chisinau today, the government’s communication and media relations department has reported.

Finance Minister Eugen Orlando Teodorovici signed on behalf of Romania and Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and European Integration Minister Natalia Gherman on behalf of Moldova.

After signing the document, Prime Minister Valeriu Strelet and Minister Eugen Orlando Teodorovici held a press conference. "Today we completed a previously announced process in the context of the reimbursable financial support, which is offered to Moldova by the Romanian government to cover the budget deficit this year and ensure the sustainability of development projects," said the prime minister.

Valeriu Strelet thanked the Romanian government, personally expressed his gratitude to Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta and Minister Eugen Orlando Teodorovici for the constructive dialogue and efforts to sign in a short period the reimbursable financial assistance agreement between Romania and Moldova. The prime minister stressed the importance of this event for both countries confirming, once again, the friendly and strategic ties between the two countries. "This agreement confirms once more the spirit that goes beyond interstate relations. It is the spirit of brotherly relations, derived from common traditions, common cultural and historical heritage, but also from Romania's sincere wish to support Moldova through complicated times", said Valeriu Strelet.

The prime minister gave assurances that the Moldovan government would prove through actions that this gesture of trust on behalf of Romania was fully justified.

For his part, Finance Minister Eugen Orlando Teodorovici confirmed that the event was just as important for Romania, as the neighbouring country wished to be close to their friends in difficult times. “We signed the Agreement on a loan of 150 million euros, in very good conditions, because it will have the same kind of reimbursement costs as Romania does when loaning on capital markets, at a very low cost," said Eugen Orlando Teodorovici, expressing hope that this financial assistance would help Moldova continue its European path.

The announcement according to which Romania will offer Moldova a loan of 150 million euros over 5 years was made public by the Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta after the joint meeting of the governments in Constanta. The annual interest rate of the loan is 1.5 per cent, and the first tranche, amounting to 60 million euros, will be disbursed by the end of this year.

(Editor A. Raileanu)