Moldovan foreign affairs minister has meeting with undersecretary of state of Italian Foreign Affairs Ministry

Chisinau, 23 February /MOLDPRES/ - Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Nicu Popescu today hosted Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy Benedetto Della Vedova, at the headquarters of the Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry (MAEIE), on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Moldovan-Italian diplomatic relations, the MAEIE press service has reported.  

„I appreciated the strong message of support conveyed by Mr. Benedetto Della Vedova for our common future within the European Union and the firm backing of Italy for our country’s European integration, including in the process of implementation of the reforms and the country’s modernization. I expressed confidence that, in the next months, we will manage to carry out the new plans discussed and which are to strengthen our bilateral relation, as well as to help anchor Moldova in the European area, with and along with Italy,’’ Minister Nicu Popescu said.   

The meeting occasioned discussions on the starting of procedures of consultation and negotiation with the Italian side of removing the roaming costs and cutting the tariffs for international calls between the two states to the level of tariffs regulated inside the European Union.

„We noted the excellent economic relations between our countries, Italy being one of the main commercial partners and the source of extremely important major investments for Moldova, for the well-being of our citizens and we are set to develop these relations in continuation,’’ the Moldovan official said.   

Additionally to those 43 bilateral agreements signed, the sides emphasized the need to advance in the process of negotiation of an important project, such as the mutual promotion and protection of investments and expressed willingness to continue the cooperation, in order to identify also other fields of common interest.  

„I noted that the relations between our societies are quite strong and one of the most numerous communities of Moldovans from abroad lives in tens of Italian cities. Our Diaspora from Italy is a quite active one and important, including for our functioning as state. And as government, we are further involved in a process of facilitation of their life,’’ the Moldovan diplomacy head stressed.  

In the context of the visit, Education and Research Minister Anatolie Topala and Undersecretary of State Benedetto Della Vedova signed the agreement on the recognition of the education acts – a new step for exchanges in the academic field, which will promote the bilateral cooperation in the science and education sector at the university level and will create facilities for students who intend to continue their education in universities of Moldova and Italy.    

„At the same time, I referred to the agreement in the social security sector, signed in Rome last year, at a visit by President Maia Sandu, willing to finish the ratification procedures. I also discussed possibility to identify a solution on repatriation of minors,’’ Minister Nicu Popescu said.  

The officials also discussed the possibility of Moldova’s inclusion in the list of states beneficiaries of the Italian Agency for Development and Cooperation, in order to implement concrete projects with the support of the Diaspora, with enhanced interest in the IT sector, manufacturing, research and development fields. 

The sides agreed on the establishment of closer relations between settlements of Moldova and Italy through the carrying out of twinning projects in the near future.

„Italy is a key partner in the process of reformation at the Interior Ministry, a partnership which allow us to strengthen the public order in Moldova, to Europenize our functioning as state,’’ Deputy PM Nicu Popescu added.   

Photo: MAEIE