Moldovan deputy premier meets Norwegian ambassador

Chisinau, 26 February /MOLDPRES/ - Deputy Prime Minister Gheorghe Balan today had a meeting with Bucharest-based Norwegian Ambassador to Moldova Tove Bruvik Westberg, the Bureau for Reintegration has reported.

The officials reviewed the present stage and prospects for the Moldovan-Norwegian relations, stressing the importance of diversifying and strengthening the bilateral dialogue.

The deputy prime minister appreciated the support Norway was providing to Moldova in its European integration efforts. He thanked, on behalf of the government, including for the technical and financial assistance offered to carry out the country’s development priorities.

The dialogue was focused, to a great extent, on Transnistrian settlement issues. Gheorghe Balan made a presentation of the political, social and economic situation in Moldova. The official highlighted the firm goal to identify a sustainable solution to the Transnistrian problem, by working out a special legal status for the region, on the basis of the principles of Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.  

Balan pointed out the priorities of the new government and the positive commitment to back the residents from Moldova’s eastern districts, by extending the single areas (legal, economic, social, customs, etc.) over all the territory of Moldova. The deputy prime minister also emphasized the benefits and opportunities the trade with the European Union is offering to enterprises from the Transnistrian region.  

Tove Bruvik Westberg was informed about the present problems on the agenda of the Chisinau-Tiraspol dialogue, observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the region, maintaining stability in the Security Zone, work of the Latin-script schools from the region, etc.   

At a request by the ambassador, the sides tackled the subject of establishing joint control at the Moldovan-Ukrainian border, that will create friendly conditions and will facilitate the crossing of the state border.

The deputy prime minister stressed the need to resume, “without delay and preconditions,” the five-plus-two negotiations, as well as the talks in other current platforms. At the same time, Balan stressed the importance that the sectoral working groups foster their activity.   

At the end of the meeting, Tove Bruvik gave assurances that Norway backed the agenda of reforms promoted by the Moldovan cabinet and would continue providing the needed assistance.   

(Editor M. Jantovan)