Residents from both banks of Dniester receive assistance from EU

Chisinau, 24 April /MOLDPRES/ - The European Union today donated a consignment of assistance with goods and products needed in the measures of preventing and combating COVID-19. The assistance fits into the EU’s Confidence Building Measures Programme for the citizens from both banks of Dniester.      

„The European Union is here to support the people from Moldova and we will continue doing this. We will help the people who fight against the coronavirus now, so that afterwards, after the crisis is over, we can help with measures of revitalizing the economy, backing enterprises, small- and medium-sized, big companies, so that we reach prosperity and development as quickly as possible,’’ EU Ambassador to Moldova Peter Michalko said at the ceremony on the delivery of the consignment.   

Attending the event, Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Cristina Lesnic said that the pandemic was an exam through which the entire world is going and Moldova, just as the other states, is willing to pass it as quickly as possible.  ‘’On behalf of the government, I express gratitude for this assistance. The virus does not choose the banks, does not choose people, neither the person, as the life and health of each citizen individually is important. I hope that we will strengthen the communication, which is to subsequently help us have an efficient and cooperating dialogue,’’ Cristina Lesnic said.

For her part, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme Dima Al-Khatib said that this was a very important step as to the support of both banks of Dniester and which will help those who are in the first line in the fight against COVID-19. ‘’This pandemic is something unprecedented; we have not faced a similar crisis, which hits all spheres of life. Unfortunately, the most vulnerable social categories are hit, for whom it is difficult to cope with the situation, or we want to help them first of all,’’ Dima Al-Khatib said.    

The fifth stage of the EU’s Confidence Building Measures Programme was launched in January 2019 and will last till 2021 inclusively.  The project, with a budget of about 10.7 million dollars, is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme and contributes to the consolidation of trust between the residents of both banks of Dniester through their involvement in joint measures.