Parliament speaker says Moldova determined to strengthen GUAM states' defence capacity in facing challenges

Chisinau, 05 October /MOLDPRES/ – Parliament Speaker, Andrian Candu, together with his counterparts from Georgia, Irakli Kobakhide, and President of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada, Andriy Parubiy, have today signed the status of the Interparliamentary Assembly Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, the parliament’s communication and public relations department has reported.

"We are determined to strengthen our common defence capability in the face of challenges. We call on the European Union and the United States of America to continue to support Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia on the difficult path of democratic reforms," said SP Andrian Candu at the opening session of the Interparliamentary Assembly Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine.

According to the head of the legislature, Moldova understands that, from the perspective of future elections, hybrid threats will target the most sensitive areas and try to undermine democratic developments in Moldova. "There are needed further tools, coordinated responses, and we need to stick together to meet the challenges. I urge Interparliamentary Assembly Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine to act in a coordinated and practical manner to improve the ability of the three states to respond to common challenges and to increase the level of security in the region. It is important to continue on the parliamentary dimension to promote the interests of the three countries on the international arena," said Andrian Candu.

The Moldovan delegation also includes Violeta Ivanov, Chairman of the Foreign Policy and European Integration Commission, Eugen Carpov, President of the National Security Commission, Defence and Public Order, Mihaela Spatari, Grigore Cobzac.

The Interparliamentary Assembly Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine will have a consultative status and facilitate collaboration for common security policies, implementation of reforms and proximity to EU. Among the priorities of the Interparliamentary Assembly is the active promotion of position of the three states on the international arena and cooperation against disinformation and propaganda. The interparliamentary assembly will meet once a year in each country by rotation.

The Delegation of the Parliament of Moldova, led by SP Andrian Candu, is in Georgia on 05 – 07 October.

The initiative to set up the Interparliamentary Assembly Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine was launched at the first high-level interparliamentary conference held in Chisinau in March, when the three speakers of the legislature committed themselves to uniting their efforts to promote some common defence and security policies.