Leanca: Moldova's European integration course means no rejection of CIS relations

“Moldova's European integration course doesn't mean, in any way, the rejection of relations with the CIS countries, which have proven their efficiency in time”, stated Moldovan Foreign Minister Iurie Leanca, at the end of the CIS foreign ministers convention on Thursday in Chisinau. “We wish that pragmatism and clarity in our relations with these countries would deservedly become of basic importance. We chose European integration as our primary goal, but this doesn't mean that everything in the relations with the CIS countries that is useful to us and meets our national interests may be thrown away”, said Leanca. Responding to fears that Moldova's European integration might cause migration problems for the citizens of the CIS member countries, the Moldovan minister said discussing the issue is premature, as negotiations with the EU on this topic haven't started yet and “solutions will be looked for when such problems appear”. Sergei Lebedev, the head of the CIS executive committee, praised the effort of today's CIS foreign ministers' convention as “fruitful”, saying that “very important documents” were signed both for the CIS and Moldova. “I am thankful to the Moldovan minister of foreign affairs for his confirmation of the intention of Moldova's leadership to continue the participation within the CIS and fortify friendly relations with the neighbors in reciprocal interests”. Lebedev said the most important document signed today was “the text of the address of the CIS heads of state on the 65th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War”.