Austria will open an embassy in Moldova. President Nicolae Timofti on June 17 had a meeting with Austria’s Ambassador to Moldova based in Bucharest Gerhard Reiweger, who is completing his duties. The diplomat said Moldova is an important country for the external policy of Austria and the opening of an embassy in Chisinau will foster the political dialogue and commercial exchanges between Moldova and Austria, IPN reports.

According to the presidential press service, the Head of State appreciated the good relations between the two countries, noting that 42 companies with Austrian capital work on Moldova’s territory at present. “The Chisinau – Soroca road was built with the contribution of an Austrian firm. This is the road I often use because it leads to my parents’ home,” stated Nicolae Timofti.

The officials also discussed the Transnistrian issue. Nicolae Timofti pleaded for a trenchant approach on the part of the OSCE in the mediation of the Transnistrian conflict so that the Russian troops are withdraw from Moldova’s territory as their presence compromises the country’s neutrality status.

In this connection, the President voiced hope that owing to its neutrality status, Austria will better understand the situation in Moldova, which is also a neutral statue.

In 2017 Austria takes over the chairmanship of the OSCE. The Austrian diplomat assured that the Transnistrian issue will be high on the list of priorities in the period.