Foreign Minister of Latvia calls Moldova to favour implementation of internal reforms

Moldova learns the experience of Latvia in the filed of European integration, the minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Andrei Stratan, announced about this at a press conference held together with his Latvian counterpart Artis Pabriks. In the same time the diplomat of Riga said that Chisinau should favour implementation of internal affairs. Moldovan foreign minister said during the meeting that there were discussed a range of problems of common interest. Stratan mentioned the fact that Moldova has a special interest in signing the bilateral inter-governmental agreement with Latvia, organised during the visit of Latvian president in Chisinau, Vaira Vike-Freiberga. Stratan also noted that it was discussed about the aspect of facilitating visa system between the states. The Moldovan chief diplomat noted that Moldova appreciates the support of Latvia to our country in the aspirations of European integration and considered very important the support of this state in other international organisations. The government of Chisinau also studies the experience of Latvia to get the assistance from EU and the way of this country to European integration. Another topic discussed by 2 ministers, according to Startan was to ensure the energy security and problems that Moldova deals with in this area. He also noted that Moldova benefits from 10 projects of the Latvian government according to cooperation agreement with this country. 2 of them, according to Stratan are already implemented, regarding the improvement of the activity of the customs service. The rest regard the activity of the local public administration, information exchange in political framework staff, etc. At his turn, Artis Pabriks showed very satisfied with the discussion held with his counterpart of Chisinau. He noted that Moldova is known in Europe due to Transnistrian conflict. „What we want from Moldova is to favour the implementation of internal reforms in order to get at the level of western Balkan countries”. Very soon EU border will get to Moldova and considered that the future of this state is close connected with that of the European Union, Latvian foreign minister mentioned as well. Those 2 ministers announced that in April, Vaira Vike-Freiberga will make a visit to Moldova, and on 11-14 April, the minister of defence of Moldova will conclude in Riga the Military Cooperation Agreement. A group of businessmen of Latvia will visit Chisinau in order to extend the economic cooperation between these two states. Pabriks expressed his confidence that the latter ones could be interested in Moldovan wines. Vaira Vike-Freiberga will be the first Latvian leader making a visit in Chisinau. President of Moldova Vladimir Voronin will make a visit to Latvia in September 2006.