New Ambassador of Romania to Moldova starts mandate

Chisinau, July 8 /MOLDPRES/ – Daniel Ionita today started working as Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Romania to Moldova. 

At a press conference, the official said that his new mandate aimed the following objectives: boosting the political dialogue, the increasing economic exchanges, implementation of joint projects in energy, infrastructure and education sectors, and strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties between Romania and Moldova. 

Romania’s new Ambassador to Moldova said that it was important to further support Moldova’s European integration. ”Romania remains the most solid and honest partner of Moldova on its path towards the EU. However, both the European partners, and the USA now expect a serious commitment from Moldova to the  reforms programme. Concrete deeds are needed, not statements," said Ionita.

Referring to the Transnistrian conflict, the diplomat confirmed political willingness to support Romania’s efforts to “identifying a political solution to the Transnistrian conflict within the “5 + 2 format of talks, by observing the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova”. 

The official said that his work will also focus on “Energy package, infrastructure, technical assistance, non-refundable assistance from Romania, supporting successful projects, such as the extension SMURD (Mobile Emergency Service for Resuscitation and Extrication), scholarships for students, minibuses, school programmes, renovation of schools and kindergartens”. 

At the same time, the ambassador informed that Romania would send the first installment of the loan worth 150 million euros of repayable assistance to Moldova when all conditions set both by Moldova and Romania were met, in particular, the signing of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund. “From what I have noticed so far, negotiations have begun. Personally, I am optimistic about the possibility of successful completion of the agreement technically in the final negotiation stage,” said Ionita. 

Daniel Ionita is a career diplomat. He started working at the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in June 1996 and going successively through all diplomatic steps, from attache to minister plenipotentiary. From January 2015 until July 2016, Ionita served as Secretary of State for Strategic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

He was in charge of international organizations, such as NATO, OSCE, Council of Europe, and bilateral relations with Moldova, the USA, Canada, Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Central Asian states. 

He is married and has one daughter. 

(Reporter A. Plitoc, editor L. Alcaza)