Moldovan deputy premier meets U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State

Chisinau, 3 March /MOLDPRES/ - Deputy Prime Minister Gheorghe Balan today had a meeting with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Bridget Brink, accompanied by American Ambassador to Moldova James D. Pettit, as well as another two U.S. diplomats, the Bureau for Reintegration has reported.

In a greeting message conveyed to the American delegation, the deputy prime minister appreciated the advanced level of the bilateral political dialogue. At the same time, Balan thanked the American nation for the constant support and valuable assistance provided to Moldova in the process of implementing the reforms and the country’s European integration. The deputy minister highlighted multiple projects carried out in Moldova with U.S. support and implementation of concrete measures, aimed at strengthening the trust between the residents on the two banks of Dniester.  

The discussions were focused on the implementation of the reforms for Moldova’s democratization and modernisation, in the context of the country’s European vector, as well on Transnistria-related issues.  

The deputy prime minister stressed that Moldova’s reintegration was a strategic priority of the state and reiterated the need to resume, without preconditions, the five-plus-two talks, as well as the negotiations within the other platforms of dialogue recorded at present.  

In this context, Gheorghe Balan informed the officials about the present situation and the prospects for the negotiating process. The deputy minister also tackled important subjects on the agenda of the Chisinau-Tiraspol dialogue, as well as the observance of the fundamental human rights and freedoms in the region, free movement of persons and transport means, developments in the Security Zone and mechanism of keeping stability within this Zone, etc.   

At the same time, the deputy minister informed about the decisions adopted at a meeting of the governmental commission for Moldova’s reintegration from 1 March 2016 and the fact that the first meeting of the political representatives in the process of talks on the Transnistrian settlement had been held at the Chisinau-based OSCE Mission’s headquarters today, in the presence of the mediators and observers within the 5+2 format.  

Also, Gheorghe Balan emphasized the cabinet’s commitment to back the residents from the eastern districts by extending the single spaces into the region, carrying out programmes with positive impact on the life of citizens, promotion of interaction between the business communities from the two banks of Dniester, for the common benefit, as well as of measures to consolidate trust between the residents of the two banks.  

At the same time, the deputy prime minister for reintegration praised the efficient cooperation relations with the U.S. Embassy in Moldova, highlighting the active involvement of Ambassador James D. Pettit in strengthening the Moldovan-American relations.  

Bridget Brink thanked the deputy prime minister for the opportunity to hold a substantive dialogue and reiterated the backing the American Government was determined to further provide to Moldova for the country’s democratization and getting closer to the European Union.  

(Editor A. Raileanu)