The decree to lift the visa regime for Romanian citizens signed by the caretaker president of Moldova Mihai Ghimpu took effect after it was published in the Official Gazette on September 18, Info-Prim Neo reports. This morning, the Border Guard Service could not say exactly how many Romanians crossed the Moldovan border by the time when the news story was published. Mariana Arlet, of the Service's Information Division, said that as the decree came into force the border guards will obey the law. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, the Romanian authorities welcome the Moldovan authorities' decision. “The given decision represents a start in the return to normality and the good neighborhood principles, in accordance with the European norms and standards. This gesture is also a sign that the Moldovan administration is interested in reopening the talks with the European Union over a new EU-Moldova framework cooperation agreement,” the Ministry says in a communique.