Results of visit to Washington by Moldovan parliament speaker

Chisinau, 20 April /MOLDPRES/ - The United States of America support the reforms implemented by Moldova and encourage the authorities to continue the course of the country’s modernization. American dignitaries made statements to this effect during a visit to Washington by Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu this week.   

According to the parliament’s communication and public relations department, the parliament speaker had meetings with Assistance Secretary responsible for diplomatic relations with 50 countries in Europe and Eurasia, NATO, EU and OSCE Wess Mitchell. PhD Wess Mitchell said that the USA would provide Moldova with every support for the rapprochement with the European Union and the United States. He noted that Moldova was on the first line of the geopolitical confrontation. Also, Andrian Candu had a meeting with Deputy Assistant Secretary in the State Department's Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Bridget Brink. At the meeting, the sides exchanged information on the entire political and reforms’ agenda of Moldova.    

In Washington, the parliament speaker also had meetings at the U. S. Congress. The friendship group of the U.S. Congress’ House of Representatives gave assurances that the American Congress’ resolution backing Moldova’s association with the European Union and demanding that Russia withdraws its troops and ammunitions from the Transnistrian region had support to be adopted. The co-chairman of the group, Congressman David Price reiterated the support for Moldova in efforts to consolidate the democracy, enhance the energy security, press ahead with reforms and protect the information space.    

Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu, accompanied by Governor of the National Bank of Moldova (BNM) Sergiu Cioclea and Finance Minister Octavian Armasu, participated in a meeting with Director of the IMF's European Department Poul Thomsen, during which the officials analyzed the stage of implementation of the IMF programme with Moldova and the governance’s priorities for the next period. The meeting with Chief Executive Office of the World Bank Kristalina Georgieva and WB Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Cyril Muller was focused in the confirmation of a good cooperation of Moldova with the World Bank, projects implemented, the ones underway and the new priorities set forth by the Moldovan governance, which comprises: 1) education sector; 2) rule of law state, 3) infrastructure projects.     

Also, the parliament speaker, accompanied by Sergiu Cioclea and Octavian Armasu, had a meeting at the American finance ministry – U.S. Treasury, with Deputy Director Andy Baukol, the deputy assistant of the secretary for Europe and Eurasia, Evangelia Bouzis, Deputy Assistant Secretary Larry McDonald, associate director Paul Leonovich and with Patricia Pollard at the IMF Office in the USA. The representatives of the U.S. Treasury highly appreciated the pace and quality of implementation of the reforms in the financial and banking sector in Moldova, as well as the good cooperation, volume of work carried out on projects dealing with fiscal administration. At the same time, the American officials assured the Moldovan delegation of continuing the support for strengthening the financial and banking system and further willingness to provide expertise and support.       

The representatives of U.S. Treasury welcomed the actions undertaken in the context of fight against the money laundering and observing the norms adopted to this end.

Andrian Candu asked for support for implementing more projects of major importance, such as the energy security, with Assistant Administrator for USAID's Bureau for Europe and Eurasia Brock Bierman. For his part, Bierman committed, as a priority, to consider the requests and identify solutions to the files unveiled.   

The Moldovan parliament speaker paid a working visit to Washington DC, on 16-18 April 2018.