Filat rejects Leanca's resignation

Prime Minister Vlad Filat said he will categorically reject the resignation of Foreign Minister Iurie Leanca. “Iurie Leanca is a good minister. He gave me multiple occasions to be proud of the head of Moldovan diplomacy. Iurie Leanca is held in high esteem by our foreign partners and he can further contribute greatly to the modernization of the country. I wish other actors had his professional skills”, Vlad Filat told reporters on Monday. Leanca presented his resignation earlier on Monday in accordance with his last year's promise to do so if he failed to secure by January 2013 the requirements necessary for the EU to waive short-stay visas for Moldovans in the Schengen Area. “Foreign policy is the area where we've seen incontestable progress. I appreciate the gesture made by Minister Leanca, a gesture which speaks of his high moral standing”, said Vlad Filat. He went on to add that in 2012 Moldova made a major step forward towards completing negotiations on the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. Important progress was also achieved with respect to visa liberalization, according to the Prime Minister.