PM Tudose in Chisinau: We are at home in Moldova. Romanian-Moldovan gov’t sitting in autumn. Moldovan PM takes pro-European, pro-NATO stances

While on visit to Republic of Moldova, PM Mihai Tudose stated on Friday that “we are at home in Moldova”.

“We are at home in Moldova,” the Romanian premier stated at the beginning of the visit, adding that there will many bilateral visits at minister level and stressing that he would like Transgaz and Transelectrica to continue investments in Moldova.

PM Tudose had a tete-a-tete meeting with his Moldovan counterpart Petru Filip.

At the end of the encounter with his counterpart, PM Tudose said Romania will remain a fervent advocate of the Republic of Moldova in the world and will endorse the Moldovan authorities to follow the European path, yet underlining the need of continuity for the ruling in Chisinau.

“Stability and continuity are needed, for otherwise all efforts made by the Government of Moldova and from the Executive in Bucharest to help, it would be pity to make so many useless efforts if they have no outcome in the upcoming years, we have to follow the path towards the European Union as soon as possible. We are totally engaged in the common effort with R. of Moldova,” PM Tudose stated.

At the same time, the Romanian premier also announced he and the Moldova counterpart had agreed on a joint Government sitting in Chisinau in autumn.

“We also agreed on a join gov’t sitting to be held in Chisinau in autumn and monthly meetings at minister level will take place until then to vivify common projects,” Tudose added.

The head of the Romanian Executive arrived in Chisinau on Friday morning, on board of a Romanian Armed Force aircraft.

After landing in Chisinau, Mihai Tudose posted two photos on social media with the message: “In Chisinau- the ties between Romania and Republic of Moldova are more than special, the entire delegation feels the same. We expect an extremely good visit!”

Pavel Filip: Despite the political color of the governments in Bucharest, attitude to Moldova hasn’t changed

In his turn, the Moldovan premier Pavel Filip stated during the joint press conference with PM Tudose that “despite the political color of the governments in Bucharest, attitude to Moldova has never changed”.

He pointed out that “this cross-party attitude should be also adopted by some political parties and political leaders in Chisinau”.

“Despite some tough statements made by some officials from Chisinau, the Republic of Moldova knows which are its best friends and knows which is its real path. This path is towards Europe and to the values defining the European Union space,” the Moldovan PM said, thus contradicting the pro-Russian stances of the Moldovan President Igor Dodon.

He also stressed that “the relation between Romania and Moldova is not a bilateral relation between two states, a mere relation between two neighboring countries, but a soul one.”

At the same time, Pavel Filip announced that the NATO office would be eventually opened in Chisinau and it might be functional starting early August. This also contradicts the Moldovan President’s stance. Igor Dodon was revealing in January his intention to cancel the agreement on opening NATO Liaison Office (NLO) in Chisinau.

Now, PM Pavel Filip stated that the R. of Moldova’s neutrality doesn’t mean this country has to be isolated.

“The R. of Moldova’s neutrality doesn’t mean this country’s being isolated. We want and I can assure you we’ll continue to have a good collaboration with NATO (…) There is no impediment and no barrier in opening this office, only just technical matters and we hope they are done by the month of August and we’ll have a NLO here in Chisinau by then,” Filip pointed out.

The Romanian delegation includes deputy PM Marcel Ciolacu, Development Minister Sevil Shhaideh, Justice Minister Tudorel Toader and secretary of state Raed Arafat, as well as the general directors of the Romanian state-owned companies Transgaz and Transelectrica, Ion Sterian and Corina Popescu.

PM Tudose is to also meet the president of the Parliament in Chisinau, Andrian Candu.

The Romanian prime minister will also attend the ceremony when the Romanian Government is donating 96 school minibuses to the Moldovan authorities.