Hungary ready to support Moldova in its European integration efforts

Senior Hungarian officials expressed readiness to support Moldova on the path to European integration politically and by providing development assistance. Moldova's Foreign Minister Iurie Leanca was assured of support while in Budapest on a visit, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting the Foreign Ministry's press office. Iurie Leanca had meetings with Foreign Minster Péter Balázs, vice president of the National Assembly László Mandur, and chairman of the parliamentary commission for foreign affairs and Hungarian minorities abroad Zsolt Németh. The meetings centered on the cooperation relations and Moldova's European aspirations, including the signing of the association agreement with the EU that would provide for the creation of a free trade zone and initiation of talks on the facilitation of the visa regime with the EU. The two foreign ministers discussed Hungary's priorities while it will hold the presidency of the EU in the first half of 2011 and the possibilities offered by the Eastern Partnership to Moldova. Iurie Leanca was invited to take part in the ministerial meeting of the Visegrad Group and the partners that will be held in Budapest on March 2. The ministers signed a protocol between the Government of Moldova and the Government of Hungary to implement the agreement on the readmission of illegal migrants between Moldova and the EU. A bilateral intergovernmental agreement on economic cooperation is to be signed in the near future.