Deputy Prime Minister Nicu Popescu, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, conferred the “Diplomatic Merit” medal of the first class on the Ambassador of France to the Republic of Moldova Pascal Le Deunff. This is the highest award of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration and was offered for a significant impetus given to the Moldovan-French relations in the recent past, IPN reports, with reference to the Ministry.

In connection with the ambassador’s farewell visit, the minister noted the considerable contribution made by the French diplomat to the French Development Agency’s decision to operate in the Republic of Moldova, the support for the fight against corruption and the attraction of new Freeh investments to the Moldova economy.

“I reiterated the fact that the Republic of Moldova and France are closer than ever and the meeting of President Maia Sandu and her French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris in February 2021 and the recent visit paid to Chisinau by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Yves Le Drian are a conclusive proof,” Nicu Popescu stated in the ceremony to confer the award.

At the end, the official wished the diplomat success in his subsequent professional activity and expressed his gratitude for France’s friendship and support for Moldova’s approaches in the process of integrating into the EU and of modernizing the country.

The “Diplomatic Merit” medal is conferred on personnel of institutions of Moldova’s diplomatic service and on other citizens for exemplary fulfillment of the official duties, for special merits in the defense and promotion of Moldova’s national interests at foreign level, for the protection of the rights and interests of the country’s citizens abroad, for the promotion of the bilateral and multilateral political, economic, cultural and scientific relations of the Republic of Moldova with other states and with international organizations and for the promotion of the country’s image abroad.