Moldovan leadership held weekly meeting

Chisinau, 10 August /MOLDPRES/- President Igor Dodon participated today in the weekly meeting with Speaker Zinaida Greceanii and Prime Minister Ion Chicu, the presidential press service has reported.

Officials discussed several issues of major importance and announced the regular meeting of the Supreme Security Council on August 12.

The head of state informed the results of his working visit to Moscow, where he had a productive meeting with deputy head of Kremlin administration, special representative of the Russian President for development of trade relations with Moldova Dmitry Kozak.

They discussed the Moldovan-Russian bilateral relations, as well as the relaunch this week of the negotiations on granting of the Russian credit worth 200 million euros. The president thanked the Russian side for the decision to provide free humanitarian aid as 40-50 thousand tons of diesel for our farmers and provide permits for our exporters, who transport their goods to the Russian Federation through Ukraine.

Dodon reported with satisfaction that in the first five months of this year, the exports of our goods to Russia increased by 20% compared to the same period in 2019, which is due to the fact that the Russian Federation extended the duty-free regime for the most important categories of Moldovan agri-food goods. The head of state said that the facilities allow domestic producers to save about 200-300 million lei annually, and this year, that amount has already reached 150 million.

Following today's meeting, the sides approached the situation in agriculture, especially the drought, which has compromised much of the cereal crop. "It is about granting aid to farmers worth one thousand lei for each hectare affected. Taking into account that about 200 thousand hectares of cereals from the first group (wheat, barley, etc.) are affected in Moldova, the government will earmark about 200 million lei ", he said.

Regarding the cereals in group two (corn and sunflower), the assessment shows that about 500 thousand hectares were compromised - half of the land with these crops. In this respect, the Moldovan government possibilities are limited, so the authorities have decided to apply to the World Bank for an emergency loan for farmers. The cabinet members are to launch negotiations in this regard.

In terms of social and economic situation in the country, the officials reiterated that they will maintain budgetary stability and all commitments to the population and economic agents will be respected.

In another context, the president welcomed the recent decision of the Constitutional Court, which considered late, but necessary. First of all, Dodon pointed out that the Court definitively confirmed the illegality of the “suspension of the President for 5 minutes” practiced in 2017-2019. Secondly, he noted that the Court's decision had established that a formalized parliamentary majority of at least 51 MPs could be announced only in parliament's plenary meeting.

"If the President refuses to submit the candidacy of Prime Minister, for the suspension of the head of state under the Constitution, at least 67 MPs must vote after they announce a referendum on the dismissal of the President", he said.