Mihai Ghimpu assures CIS summit will take place

Moldova's Caretaker President Mihai Ghimpu discussed aspects of the CIS summit set to take place in Chisinau during October 8-9 and the bilateral relations between Moldova and Russia with the head of the Russian Government Apparatus Sergey Naryshkin on Thursday morning, Info-Prim Neo reports. “I don't think we should now start our relations from the very beginning as Moldova and Russia have old kinship, traditional and historical ties,” Sergey Naryshkin said. “I assured him that the summit will take place, that the preparations go on and there are no reasons to believe the rumors that if the Liberals come to power the relations with Russia and other states will worsen,” Mihai Ghimpu said after the meeting with the Russian official. “I confirmed the Alliance for European Integration's intention to develop the Moldovan-Russian relations.” Speaking about the Transnistrian dispute and the withdrawal of the 14th army from Transnistria, Mihai Ghimpu said that these subjects will be discussed with Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev, who is expected to come to the CIS summit. The two officials also discussed the $500 million loan promised by Russian to Moldova. “Naryshkin assured me that Russia is ready to grant this loan. We have to formulate a legal document,” Ghimpu said. Serghei Naryshkin is participating in the fourth CIS Intellectuality Forum taking place in Chisinau between September 24 and 25. He heads the Russian delegation.