Moldova and Romania signed statement, not agreement because of Moldova's official language

The legal form of the joint statement on the establishment of a strategic partnership for Moldova's European integration signed by the Acting President of Moldova Mihai Ghimpu and the Romania President Traian Basescu in Bucharest on April 27 suits the leaders of the Alliance for European Integration (AEI). The reason for signing a statement not an agreement, as it was initially planned, is the official language in which the Moldovan Parliament was to adopt a possible treaty, the leaders of the AEI said during the program “In Profunzime” (“In Depth”) broadcast on PRO TV Chisinau on Monday evening, Info-Prim Neo reports. Acting President Mihai Ghimpu said the statement has the same legal power as an agreement, but it does not have to be ratified in Parliament. Prime Minister Vlad Filat also said the statement has sufficient legal power. The leader of the PDM Marian Lupu said an agreement is large in content, while the signed statement was short. When signing the statement in Bucharest, Traian Basescu said there is only one fact that can provoke public debates – that the document was signed in two originals, both in Romanian. Asked if the parliamentary group of the PDM would have voted for an agreement in Romanian, Marian Lupu said they would have not. “We wouldn't have voted in favor as this is against the national laws,” said Lupu. The Moldovan-Romanian statement signed in Bucharest describes the privileged framework of the bilateral relations and provides for the development of the cooperation in the political, economic and cultural spheres.