Moldovan, American officials discuss cooperation, reforms

Chisinau, 30 September /MOLDPRES/- Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu has approached the bilateral strategic partnership, alternative energy projects for Moldova, development of the situation in the country and in the eastern neighborhood, the parliament’s communication and public relations department has reported.

Candu had a string of bilateral meetings with high American officials, including Bob Corker, chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, David Price and Dana Rohrabacher (Dane Rorbaker), co-heads of Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats, Joseph Pitts (Josef Pits), co-chair of Friends of Moldova Group in US Congress “Congressional Moldova Caucus” and congressman Steve Chabot.

The talks were focused on potential for developing Moldovan-American relations, identifying solutions to boost the economic relations, as well as drawing American investments in Moldova. The speaker expressed Moldova’s political support for finalizing negotiations and subsequently signing an agreement on Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), meant to offer great added value to the EU countries and Moldova, which had the status of an associated country in EU.

“Moldova is interested in greater and more active presence of the American companies in the national economy through direct investments, as well as in having a more open American market for Moldovan products. Our country can become a transatlantic trade gateway Eastern market, as there is Free Trade Agreement with Eastern countries – Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine and with Middle East – Free Trade Agreement with Turkey,” the speaker said.

Candu thanked for the continuous support provided in carrying out the democratic reforms, important for development and prosperity of the country. For their part, the American officials reiterated the United States’ full support for Moldova in ensuring finality of key-reforms, as well as in settling the Transnistrian conflict. At the same time, the American officials appreciated the achievements recorded by Moldova in fulfilling the roadmap on priority reforms and IMF prerequisites on a country programme. They said this effort brought Moldova back to normality of strategic cooperation.

On the other hand, Senator Bob Corker said that Candu’s visit to the USA “reaffirms the positive development of relations of the two countries both at bilateral and parliamentary levels”, thanking him for contribution. The senator said “we are in a period when solidarity is needed with Moldova and Ukraine, offering citizens of these countries prosperity and security.

Congressman Pitts was interested in perspective for bilateral cooperation, supporting boosting the parliamentary diplomacy, increasing American investments in Moldova, as well as strengthening bilateral strategic partnership.

For their part, David Price and Dana Rohrabacher were interested in Russian propaganda in Moldova and measures applied by authorities to combat them, including at parliamentary level. The officials also discussed the forthcoming presidential elections, expressing support for holding fair and free elections in Moldova.

Congressman Steve Chabot was surprised that his colleague Weber had elaborated a resolution for Moldova, including a string of persons in this project, without documenting on “country case”.

(Editor L. Alcază)