Statement by Moldovan president after meeting with US Secretary of State

Mr. Secretary of State, I greet you in Chisinau.

On February 18, just two weeks ago, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Moldova and the United States of America. For three decades, the United States has supported us in our efforts to strengthen society and the economy, to build a democratic state, where every citizen can be free to think.

We are grateful for the assistance provided by the government and the US citizens during this period, over 1.7 billion US dollars, assistance that helped us to consolidate as a state. We appreciate the strong support of the United States for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova and for our European path.

I would like you to visit us in peacetime, in the context of the anniversary of our bilateral relations. We have big plans for the transformation of Moldova.

We have begun to reform the justice system, fight corruption in state institutions, improve the business environment and attract investment to the country's economy, encourage the development of local communities and rethink the education system to better prepare Moldova for the challenges of the weather. We want to build a resilient, competitive, prosperous and innovative country. A country that invests in people and can channel the energy and creativity of its citizens to build a place where people want to live.

The reality that we woke up on February 24th, however, put our plans on hold. We are in a dark period for the whole region, where all efforts are directed towards consolidating society around a single goal - peace in the region.

As you know, the war in Ukraine is taking place right on the border of our country. I strongly condemned the military aggression against Ukraine and called for peace from the first hour of military action. We will continue to call for dialogue and for peaceful solutions as the only way to end the aggression against Ukraine and its citizens.

As a neutral country - a principle enshrined in the Constitution - we have decided to lend a helping hand to people who are directly affected by the scourge of war. From the first hours of the armed attack on Ukraine, Moldova has received on its territory the citizens of the neighboring country fleeing the bombs.

More than 250,000 people have crossed the border between Ukraine and Moldova since the beginning of the war; a good part of them remain in our country for the time being. State service employees: border guards, customs officers, carabinieri, doctors, social workers, local elected officials, diplomats, but also many volunteers mobilized to help refugees coming from Ukraine. Thousands of ordinary people from all over the country have joined the effort.

After entering Moldova, refugees receive a hot snack, transport and shelter in a temporary placement center or in people's homes. Tens of thousands of families across the country are hosting guests from Ukraine these days. It is a significant effort for a country with a population of less than 3 million people with modest incomes.

Despite the great challenges that the growing flow of refugees from the neighboring country presents to us, we cannot turn our backs on these people. Most are women, children and the elderly. They cross our border tired, desperate, after many hours on the road, fleeing the path of war. We have a moral obligation to help them - and we will do so for as long as we can.

Mr. Secretary of State,

The Republic of Moldova needs the immediate and significant help and contribution of the international community so that people and our economy can continue to meet these challenges.

We urgently need help with the temporary accommodation of these people, providing them with the necessary necessities and redirecting the flow of refugees who want to go to other countries to European states that have a greater capacity to receive them.

Some states have already expressed readiness to take in and host refugees from Ukraine in the coming period. Only with the joint, consistent and rapid efforts of all partners can we help Ukraine.

We need help and the rapid involvement of the international community - first and foremost, to end the fighting and restore peace. I hope that the tour you are currently undertaking in the countries of the region will contribute, together with the visits of other high-ranking officials, to the peace efforts in Ukraine. That's what we all want. That's what everyone deserves - especially Ukrainians.

Secretary of State Blinken,

The Republic of Moldova and the United States have developed a very good relationship in the more than 30 years of cooperation and friendship. I appreciate the strategic partnership between our countries and I hope to see each other again in better days, when we will be able to discuss how to advance on the topics we have on the bilateral agenda of our countries.

I hope that your visit will give a new lease of life to our partnership. We want to continue the political and security dialogue between our states, to develop energy resilience projects and to advance in the dialogue on justice and cooperation in the field of recovery of stolen assets from the citizens of the Republic of Moldova.

The Moldovan-American partnership will help us to strengthen the resilience of the Republic of Moldova, to strengthen the capacity of our country to respond to the challenges of the weather. And a stronger, more resilient Moldova can become a pole of stability and development in the region, a reliable partner and an outpost of the free world.

Photo: Presidency