Carl Bildt: Moldova deserves more than status of EU associate

“The future document to be signed between Moldova and the EU is not important by its name, but by the fact that it shall be adjusted to Moldova’s needs and peculiarities,” the Swedish Foreign Minister, Carl Bildt, has stated at a joint briefing with his Moldovan counterpart, Andrei Stratan, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. The conference took place on Friday in the evening. According to the Swedish official, the term of an associate is not adequate, as it is used for too many countries. He said a specific term should be found for Moldova which is a country with European perspective. At the same time, Carl Bildt underlined the importance of applying the laws, not only of adopting them. It’s a factor especially accentuated within the EU. The process of European integration depends on the level of the implementation of the domestic reforms, he remarked. These reforms must be implemented regardless of conditions. There are things yet to be done and Moldova’s speeding for the EU depends on when they are done, said the Swedish Foreign Minister on a trip to Moldova. Speaking on the regulation of the Transnistrian conflict, he said Sweden is expecting the 5+2 format talks to resume, and he thinks it’s the right time to find a solution. Sweden will provide all the necessary assistance to move forward in this respect, he said. Foreign Minister Andrei Stratan mentioned the good development of the Moldovan-Swedish relationships expressing gratitude for the assistance granted to Moldova in more areas. The head of the Stockholm diplomacy reiterated Sweden’s firm support for Moldova’s European aspirations and at his meetings with President Vladimir Voronin and speaker Marian Lupu. Carl Bildt stressed Sweden wanted to contribute to strengthen the reforms in this country and to Moldova’s European agenda. According to the Swedish official, the Stockholm authorities will further actively cooperate with Moldova and will plead for its European path both during Sweden presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in the second half of this year, as well as during Sweden’s EU presidency in the second half of 2009.