EU's agreement with Moldova to be conditioned on lifting visas for Romanians: Bucharest FM

The new agreement to be signed by the European Union with Moldova will be categorically conditioned on the cancellation of the visa regime Moldova imposed on Romanian citizens, stated Romania's Foreign Minister Cristian Diaconescu on a video chat on Realitatea TV. According to him, impelling visas on Romanians is "an inadmissible gesture" without legal reasons, Info-Prim Neo has learnt from that TV station's web site. Referring to Vladimir Voronin's statement, that "Basescu (Traian Basescu, Romania's president, e.n..) is an individual out of the EU's control," Diaconescu commented that the European Union is no boss to Romania. Romania is a full-right member, willing to participate in the decision-making process within the Union. "The EU is not an institution under the tutelage of which Romania is, but an institution patronizing the Eastern Partnership, which means large amounts of money to be put at the disposal of six countries to the east of the Union. I also want to convey it to Mr. Voronin that the EU's funds to support democracy come from the Romanian tax-payers, too,” Diaconescu stated. Cristian Diaconescu has reiterated that Romania had not got involved in the events after the April 5 elections in Chisinau. That is why it does not have to assume any responsibility in this regard: “Before making statements, Vladimir Voronin should better give answers about the arrested journalists, about those three young men having died in the police's custody.” Speaking about Moldovans' regaining the Romanian citizenship, Cristian Diaconescu agreed the procedures of granting it were difficult, but reminded that the Romanian authorities had been waiting for a year for the Moldovan authorities to allow therm open two more consulates in Moldova. He specified "the Moldovan citizens regain their Romanian citizenship, they do not acquire it now." Moldova imposed visas for Romanians after the April 7 events, accusing Romania of co-organizing the turmoil. At that time, Romania's ambassador to Chisinau, Filip Teodorescu, was expelled from Moldova. Later the Romanian authorities proposed Mihnea Constantinescu for the job, but he was also rejected by the Moldovan side.