The head office of the Embassy of Austria, which is located at 23a AlexeiMateevici St in Chisinau in a historical building classed as a national architectural monument, has been inaugurated. Until now, Austria’s Embassy in Moldova was based in Bucharest, Romania, IPN reports.
In the opening ceremony, Ambassador MichaelSchwarzingersaid that this decision of the Austrian Government was taken despite the tight budget, in a moment when other Austrian embassies and consulates were closed. The relations between Moldova and Austria have been excellent during the 21 years and the opening of the head office in Chisinau will strengthen them.
Austrian Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsReinholdLopatka said that the opening of this embassy shows how important the bilateral relations between Moldova and Austria are. This building must be a place of meetings, exhibitions, receptions, and conferences.
GerhardSchaumberger, head of the Embassy’s Office for the Coordination of Technical Cooperation, said that the new building houses Austria’s Office for Technical Cooperation, the social attaché’s office, the office of the attaché responsible for police affairs, and the office of the person responsible for the education sector. The visas for Austria will be issued at the Common Visa Issuing Center in Chisinau. Austria issued very many visas to Moldovans and their number rises in the period of the summer and winter vacations.
Attending the inauguration, Moldova’s Foreign MinisterIurieLeanca said the decision to open a head office in Chisinau is regarded as support offered to the transformation process in Moldova. “Even without an embassy, Austria’s presence in Chisinau was remarkable in every field,” he stated, making reference to the implemented social and development projects.
The last investment of Austria in Moldova, of 7.5 million, was made in healthcare.
