Chisinau continues consultations on wine exports with Russia, but asks EU to allow more Moldovan wine on its market

The consultations on the export of Moldovan wine with Russia will go on because Moldova wants things to be clear, Premier Vlad Filat said in the program “Politics Live” broadcast on the public TV channel Moldova 1, Info-Prim Neo reports. “The Russian side asked that the discussions be held at technical level, not at political one, and they are right,” the Premier answered, when asked if the acceptance of Moscow’s request to exclude the Moldovan agriculture minister from the negotiations is a concession made by Moldova. “There is nothing that the agriculture minister and the deputy of Onishchenko (Ghennady Onishchenko, the head of Russia’s food safety body Rospotrebnadzor – e.n.) could discuss in Moscow,” Vlad Filat stressed. The Premier also said that Moldova must treat this situation very seriously. “We should not forget that we export to Russia not only wine. Many economic entities were put in a difficult situation,” he said. Asked to comment on Ghennady Onishchenko’s accusations that Moldova did nothing to improve the quality of the wines so that they meet the set parameters, Vlad Filat said his dialogue partner is the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. “Onishchenko can say what he wants. We reached an agreement with the Russian Premier and will observe it. I think Onishchenko’s accusations can be commented by Moldova’s chief sanitary inspector. I will comment on Putin’s statements only. We will soon hold discussions and I’m sure we will overcome all the misunderstandings,” Vlad Filat said. The Premier stressed Moldova faces certification-related problems, but this does not mean that the exported products are of a poor quality. “We must conquer new markets, including the European one. We are to open talks on a deep and comprehensive free trade area with the EU. In order to enter this market, our products should be of the best quality,” Vlad Filat said. He stated he asked the European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso to increase the import quota on Moldovan wines. “The increase is considerable. I will not give figures. The Commission is to examine our request,” Vlad Filat said.