Moldovan deputy premier attends 132nd session of Council of Europe Committee of Ministers

Chisinau, May 20 / MOLDPRES /- Deputy Prime Minister Nicu Popescu, Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration attended the 132nd Session of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers in Turin, Italy, the MAEIE press service has reported.

In his speech, the official noted that the country supports the importance of respecting European values ​​and principles, recalling the aspirations that were the basis for the creation of the Council of Europe, peace-building on the European continent and refusing to repeat the atrocities of the past.

Popescu told European counterparts that since the first days of the war in the neighboring country, Moldova has opened its doors wide for Ukrainian refugees fleeing the horrors of the conflict, an event with profound economic, social and humanitarian consequences for the Republic of Moldova.

"I thank the international partners, including the structures of the Council of Europe, for all their support. Russia's war against Ukraine has unleashed an unimaginable tragedy on the entire European continent, which is why our country has supported the exclusion of the Russian Federation from the organization, " he said.

Popescu also referred to the upward cooperation between the Council of Europe and our country, mentioning the role of the organization in strengthening democratic institutions in the Republic of Moldova, in particular in the practical way through the Council of Europe Action Plan 2021-2024.

"I emphasized the government's unquestionable commitment to reforming the institutions. Justice reform occupies a central place here, and the Council of Europe's High Level Group of Justice Experts has a special role to play in this process, " he said.

Regarding the serious situation of human rights in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova, the functioning of the Latin-language schools in the region, known to the ECHR as the Catan group, was exemplified.

"We admire the children, families, teachers and technical staff of these schools for their willingness to learn in their mother tongue, in Romanian," said Popescu.

The official used the opportunity to reiterate the irreversibility of the European integration of Moldova and to call on our country's friends to support us in aspirations to obtain the status of candidate state for the European Union, noting that our country has chosen EU membership on a path to freedom, prosperity and peace.

Photo: MAEIE