Lupu reiterates Moldova’s firm position on bilateral relations with Russia

Moldova’s Acting President Marian Lupu assured Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is in Chisinau on a visit, that the Moldovan authorities consider the relations with Russia of strategic importance, Info-Prim Neo reports. “What we have today and the future plans are in line with our European integration policy. It is a good and positive thing. We also referred to the free trade agreement with the CIS on the one hand and the free trade agreement that we negotiate with the European Union on the other hand,” Marian Lupu said after the meeting with the Russian official. He stated that it is important to develop the political dialogue at all the levels. “We spoke about trade, the economic cooperation and cooperation in the energy sector as the agreements concerning the next contract for the supply of gas with Russia must be finished at governmental level. It was an extensive discussion and I can say that this visit and this meeting will have beneficial effects,” said Marian Lupu. He also said that they discussed the resumption of the official talks in the 5+2 format and the Russian military presence in Transnistria. “I reiterated our firm position as regards Moldova’s permanent status of neutrality. On the other hand, I stressed the necessity of resolving this issue. It is important that the sides accepted the idea that this problem must be addressed within the Transnistrian conflict settlement talks,” said the Acting President. Marian Lupu accepted Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s invitation to take part in the Summit of CIS Heads of State that will take place on December 20. Before the meeting with Marian Lupu, Sergey Lavrov met with his Moldovan counterpart Iurie Leanca and signed a number of agreements with him. He was also to meet with Prime Minister Vlad Filat.