The Government pursues a balanced foreign policy and this means that the European integration course will be continued. There is wish to restore the dialogue with all the foreign partners, including the Russian Federation and other CIS states, Prime Minister Ion Chicu stated for IPN News Agency in a video interview. He noted the relations with the neighboring states are absolutely important for any country, especially for Moldova as it has only two neighbors.
“We worked out the Government’s action plan that stipulates more than 1,000 measures and you will see that the main chapters refer to the European integration and the justice sector reform. Last Friday, I had a meeting with all the ambassadors working in Chisinau and presented this action plan to them. They convinced themselves that our actions on the European integration dimension are the main part of this program and we enjoy their support,” stated Premier Chicu, noting that he will go to have discussions where there are economic interests and such a position is welcomed by the Europeans and the Americans and these see no contradiction in this regard. Speculations on the issue are made primarily at internal level.
The official said that as regards the relations with Ukraine, he had already two meetings with his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksiy Honcharuk, in London and in Kiev. They discussed the issues to which solutions need to be identified. Some of the problems date back to the 1990s. The ecological situation of the Nistru River and the hydropower plants on the Nistru will be discussed by the Moldovan-Ukrainian intergovernmental commission that will meet in Chisinau next March. The Ukrainian Premier is to make a visit to Moldova then.
The Premier also noted the good dialogue with Romania’s Ambassador in Chisinau Daniel Ioniță, including in the business sector. “I always expressed my gratitude to the Government and the people of Romania for the assistance they provide to us, including in repairing kindergartens. The kindergartens in most of our villages have been repaired with Romanian funds. This means a lot for the education system,” he stated. “With Romania, we will have a friendly, strategic dialogue as two neighboring states should cooperate, based on very good, important and special relations.”
As to cooperation within GUAM, which includes Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova, Premier Chicu said that at the plenary meeting of heads of government of these states in Kiev recently, the sides discussed the strengthening of the economic basis by building a free trade area and a common transport corridor that would ensure connection with the Asian markets. The economic aspect on this platform was somehow in the focus, but there is also an obvious political aspect as all these states have a similar problem – separatist regions. The four states agreed to have a common position on different international platforms and to consult each other about solutions.
The interview “Prime Minister Ion Chicu’s view about the state of affairs in Moldovan society at the intersection of years” forms part of the series. “Crossroads of years through the angle of the ideal of living better at home” that also involves President Igor Dodon and the leaders of the main parliamentary parties Andrei Năstase, Pavel Fillip and Maia Sandu.
