European officials welcome Moldova’s progress

On February 19, 2013 Prime Minister Vlad Filat along with British, Polish and Swedish Foreign Ministers William Hague, Radoslaw Sikorski and Carl Bildt respectively, gave a news conference, the government’s communication and press relations department has reported.

Filat thanked the officials for the visit and for the offered support, saying that it was a great honour to have them as guests in Moldova.

“We discussed the development of negotiations on the signing of an association agreement with the EU, Moldova’s interior processes and its set goals.The important thing is that Moldova, via its actions, has managed to keep the necessary pace and has implemented the commitments assumed towards the foreign partners. Moldova will continue to do so,” Filat said.

According to Filat, it is important to finish the initiated reforms, thing that would allow fighting against corruption and having a functional economy, a justice in line with the legislation and a free media.

William Hague said that this was the first time ever when a British foreign minister paid a visit to Moldova, noting that it was a sign of support for Moldova’s European integration process.

“We back the reform programme initiated by the Moldovan government. It is an ambitious one. It is important that all sectors work in line with the legal norm,” Hague said.

Radoslaw Sikorski reiterated the EU support as regards the signing of an association agreement.

“I first visited the Republic of Moldova in the period of street riots. Frankly speaking, I thought then that you were heading towards the future of a failed state. Now, Moldova is taking firm steps towards accession to the EU.

Presently, we are negotiating an ambitious agreement. Moldova was the fastest in achieving progress, compared to the other states of the Eastern Partnership. We are close to the end. I am confident that during the Summit in Vilnius, we will put the stamp of approval on a Moldova´s closer relation with the EU,” Sikorski said.

For his part, Carl Bildt said that the EU firmly backed Moldova.

“I would like to congratulate you on the progress. We hope that you will keep the strategic orientation of your policies in order to continue having the same progress. I can promise you that we will do our best to speed up the ratification of the Moldova-EU association agreement. It is a good sign,” Bildt said.

Adapted from: MOLDPRES