Moldova's foreign affairs ministry says country has single foreign policy vector - European integration

Chisinau, 27 June /MOLDPRES/ - The cooperation between Moldova and Lithuania in diverse sectors, Lithuanian assistance in the European integration process, negotiation of a bilateral agreement on mutual conversion and recognition of driver’s licences, etc. were discussed at a meeting between Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Nicu Popescu and Foreign Affairs Minister of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius.    

According to the Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry’s public diplomacy, strategic communication and media interaction service, during the discussions, Minister Nicu Popescu stressed that the visit to Chisinau by his Lithuanian counterpart was a sign of support and friendship Lithuania was providing to Moldova and a first step towards the boosting of the relations with all foreign partners. “Our only foreign policy vector is the European integration; through the re-launching of our relations with the European Union and, at the bilateral level, with the member states, we will be able to unlock the foreign financing and overcome the stage of the country’s international isolation, “Popescu noted.   

Also, the Moldovan diplomacy head reconfirmed the country’s interest in diversifying the commercial and economic relations. “We want to deepen the economic cooperation through holding a meeting of the joint commission for European integration (which has economic competences), as well as organization of a forum of business people from both countries, in order to foster the trade exchanges,” the official also said.

For his part, Minister Linkevičius firmly backs Moldova in the implementation of the Association Agreement, as well as in other concrete fields related to the European integration process. “I have come with the message that Moldova is an important country, both for the European Union and for Lithuania. We discussed concrete ways of assistance, as long as the processes of reform and the implementation of the Association Agreement continue.”    

As for the recent political developments in Moldova, the Lithuanian official underlined that he welcomed “the peaceful transition of power to the legitimate government led by Maia Sandu. We hope that this coalition will remain functional, sustainable and committed on the European integration way and we will be ready to provide assistance and continue the close cooperation with Moldova.”  

Also, in the context of the extension of the bilateral legal basis, Minister Popescu proposed to his Lithuanian counterpart to start talks on the signing of a bilateral agreement on the mutual conversion and recognition of driver’s licences. “The signing of such a document would be a very important thing for the Moldovan Diaspora; our foreign policy must serve the interests of our citizens through concrete measures and benefits,” the Moldovan foreign affairs minister added.