Italian Embassy tests visa issuance mechanism for Moldovans

The Italian Embassy in Chisinau has started testing the visa issuance mechanism for Moldovan citizens and as soon as the system passes successfully the trial, the Italian Consulate will be officially unveiled, Ambassador Stefano De Leo announced today at a meeting with Moldovan Foreign Minister Andrei Stratan, Info-Prim Neo reports. Until then, Moldovan citizens can further apply for Italian visas at the Embassy in Bucharest, De Leo was quoted by MFA's press service as saying. The ambassador added that he is familiar with all the problems that the Moldovan citizens face at present, but, at the same time, hopes that the situation is understood correctly. Earlier it was reported that the Italian Embassy in Chisinau would start issuing visas on 2 January 2009.