Moldovan president meets co-heads of European Action Group for Moldova

Chisinau, 16 June /MOLDPRES/ - President Nicolae Timofti on 16 June had a meeting with Romanian Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu and Secretary of State for European Affairs of France Harlem Desir, who are co-heads of the European Action Group for Moldova, the presidential press service has reported.

The head of state welcomed the visit by the two diplomats. He voiced high appreciation for the support provided by Romania and France and personally thanked the Romanian and French presidents, Klaus Iohannis and Francois Hollande, respectively, for the constant backing of Moldova in its European integration efforts.

In the context, the president reaffirmed Moldova’s commitment to implement, as a priority, the provisions of the Association Agreement with EU.

The head of the Romanian diplomacy highlighted the symbolism of the present visit to Moldova, just two weeks ahead of the full entrance into force of the Association Agreement between Moldova and the European Union.

‘’Moldova’s advancement in European integration is our goal and we are happy that we move in this effort along with France and our European partners,’’ Lazar Comanescu said.

For his part, Harlem Désir pointed to the need to press ahead with the implementation of the European reforms, especially the ones in the justice sector, banking system, depoliticizing of the state institutions and fighting the high-level corruption.

At the meeting, the Romanian foreign minister praised the decisions and actions by President Timofti on the crisis period Moldova had experienced. ‘’I am sure that your contribution to the European course of Moldova will be a long-term one,’’ Lazar Comanescu said.

Another topic of the meeting was focused on the security in the region and the Transnistrian problem. ‘’Moldova’s independence, the territorial integrity and  unity of our state should be at the basis of the five-plus-two negotiations,’’ President Timofti said.

Referring to the conflict in eastern Ukraine, the French diplomat said the EU states were declaring for the observance of the Minsk agreements’ provisions, and the European Union’s Council was to decide on the extension of the sanctions imposed on Russia for their violation.

In the context of the today’s meetings, the French Secretary of State for European Affairs informed about an intention of Prime Minister of France Manuel Valls to visit Moldova.

The European Action Group for Moldova is an informal platform launched by France and Romania in 2010, with the participation of the foreign ministers from more EU member states, within which the members exchange opinions and ideas on the advancement of the EU’s relations with Moldova.

(Editor A. Raileanu)