Moldovan president says grateful to Romania, European Union for assistance

Chisinau, 19 February /MOLDPRES/ -‘’We are grateful to Romania for this free of charge assistance worth over two million euros, a humanitarian assistance which will reach our hospitals, for physicians, medical employees and for patients. I am happy that this assistance comes quite quickly after the discussions I had with President Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Florin Citu, with representatives of the European Commission and other European institutions, which I have recently had,’’ President Maia Sandu said at the official ceremony on the delivery of the humanitarian assistance provided by Romania.    

According to the presidential press service, the head of state thanked once again for this aid and for the entire support Moldova had received since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. ‘’It is quite important that we see this openness. We know how hard is for us in these times, as not only Moldova faces this sanitary and economic crisis. And so much the more this assistance is appreciated,’’ Maia Sandu noted.     

At the same time, the president said that Moldova further relied on the support of all European Union countries in the dialogue with the European institutions, so that we have access to vaccine as soon as possible. ‘’We hope that all bureaucratic problems, especially the ones dealing with getting the agreement of vaccine producers, are solved as soon as possible and we can discuss the starting of the vaccination process,’’ Maia Sandu reiterated. In the context, the head of state urged all citizens to be vigilant, weak masks and keep the social distance.  

For his part, Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu said that Romania regarded Moldova as a foreign policy priority and reconfirmed the support for the reform-oriented agenda of President Maia Sandu.

„We are and we want to remain the most important and sincerest partner of Moldova and its citizens, based on the special relation substantiated by the community of language, history and culture which connect us, and of the bilateral strategic partnership for Moldova’s European integration. President Klaus Iohannis expressed unequivocal support for the reform-oriented agenda of President Maia Sandu. You have everybody seen the special openness Mrs. President enjoys in Europe. We are happy that Moldova is again a valid, reliable interlocutor for its western partners. This today’s gesture proves our consistency, as well as the sincere and disinterested wish to back Moldova’s citizens in the most difficult moments,’’ Minister Aurescu said.

Attending the event along with the Europe Team, made up of the ambassadors of the European Union member countries, EU Ambassador to Chisinau Peter Michalko said that the European Union would continue providing support to the first-line medical staff and all Moldova’s citizens. ‘’We are delighted to see once again this proof of solidarity on behalf of Romania through the providing of protection equipment, which is vital in the fight with the pandemic. This quick and continuous effort is meant to show us that the European Union was by the side of Moldova’s citizens and that EU Civil Protection Mechanism  is an efficient instrument for providing the needed support quickly,’’ Ambassador Michalko said.  

The head of the clinical Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Therapy at the Emergency Medicine Institute, Adrian Belii, gave a speech of thanks for the assistance provided by Romania and with gratitude on behalf of the medical employees.  

In the end of the ceremony, President Maia Sandu and the officials present at the event made a tour of those 13 trucks with medical equipment, which arrived in Chisinau today. The humanitarian assistance provided by Romania is made up, in the first phase, of 1.5 million surgical masks, 100,000 FFP3 masks, 100,000 coveralls and 100,000 disposable gloves.   

photo: presedintie.md