The signing of the Association Agreement with the EU is a realistic matter, while the foreign partners will support Moldova in its aspirations, Prime Minister Iurie Leanca said in a news conference held on his return from the U.S. and Italy, which he visited on September 24-29, IPN reports.
While in New York, the Premier took part in the session of the UN General Assembly, where he gave a speech on Moldova’s economic development, energy security, human rights and the Transnistrian settlement. Iurie Leanca said that in the U.S. he had meetings with his counterparts from Japan, the Czech Republic and Vietnam. An exchange of visits with the Japanese Premier may be organized in spring so as to foster the bilateral dialogue and to attract investments.
Also in New York, the Premier had a meeting with the president of the Millennium Challenge Corporation Daniel Yohannes, with whom he discussed the implementation of the Compact in Moldova, which centers on modernization of agriculture and road building. The officials also considered the possibility of opening talks on a new MCC assistance program on education and energy.
Iurie Leanca had a meeting with the administrator of the UN Development Program Helen Clark. The officials discussed the bilateral cooperation and the progress made by Moldova in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
In the meeting with the Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, Iurie Leanca discussed the Council of Europe plan of actions on the support of reforms in Moldova, which is to be launched this autumn, with the support of the EU.
In Italy, Iurie Leanca took part in the Moldovan-Italian Business Forum and met with members of the Moldovan diaspora in Verona, Venice and Padova.
