Moldova excludes possibility of returning to talks on federalization, foreign minister says
12:57 | 12.09.2019 Category: Political
Chisinau, 12 September /MOLDPRES/- Moldova categorically does not want and cannot return to the discussions on federalization or principles of Transnistrian conflict settlement that were discussed about 15 years ago. Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nicu Popescu made the statement today, after his visit to Moscow.
The minister said it is of major importance to continue the diplomatic efforts to obtain the withdrawal of foreign troops from our country. Regarding the evacuation of ammunition from the warehouses near the village of Cobasna, Nicu Popescu said that the process could be carried out exclusively in a format to which the external partners of our country are connected.
In another context, Popescu said that Moldova does not intend to adopt new initiatives in relations with the Eurasian Economic Union. "We explained in Moscow how we see the development of the foreign policy of the Republic of Moldova, which is based on several principles, the basic one being the non-review of the existing agreements, of which the Republic of Moldova is a part, and therefore the continuous determination of our country to unlock relations with the EU and implement the Association Agreement,” he said.
Economically, the minister reiterated in Moscow that our country wants to return to a trade regime under the Free Trade Agreement, signed within the CIS in 2012, without restrictions, as this document is not in contradiction with the Association Agreement signed with the EU.
He also gave details about this week's visit to Kiev, Ukraine. Popescu said that in the neighboring country, he discussed with several officials the agenda of bilateral relations. "We discussed the perspective in which the citizens of our country will be able to travel to Ukraine on the basis of identity cards. We have agreed to make progress in bilateral relations with Ukraine in order to eliminate roaming prices ”, he said.
This week, Popescu visited the Russian Federation and Ukraine. At the same time, French Secretary of State for European Affairs Amélie de Montchalin is expected today in Chisinau.
