Moldova hopes EU will expand role in settling Transnistrian dispute

Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Andrei Stratan is hopeful that EU will expand its role in establishing the European security through an essential contribution to settling the Transnistrian dispute. Stratan made this statement during the speech delivered at the 43-rd edition of the Conference on Security Policy (Munich, Germany). The head of Moldovan diplomacy pointed out that Chisinau authorities are determined to find a political sustainable and peaceful solution to the Transnistrian dispute, based on observance of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova. Stratan had bilateral meetings with a number of officials from other states. During the meeting with his Czech counterpart Karl Schwarzenberg there were tackled aspects of the European integration process. Stratan expressed the desire to expand contractual relations with the EU, by signing an Association Agreement, following the example of the South East European countries. As the head of Czech diplomacy says, Moldova is regarded as one of the priorities of the Czech Republic’s foreign policy, which is open for cooperation with a view to offering the necessary assistance. After sharing opinions about the level of the Moldovan-Japan relations, Deputy Foreign Minister of Japan Mitoji Yabunaka mentioned that Japan will establish new parameters of the bilateral cooperation, including the possibility of Japanese investments in Moldova. The Munich Conference, that took place on February 9-11, has brought together key politicians from various countries world-wide, counting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Victor Iuscenco, the EU Secretary General, and the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and others.