Moldovan and Romanian Prime Ministers discussed possibility to hold joint Government meetings

Moldova’s Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev and his Romanian counterpart, Calin Popescu Tariceanu, currently visiting Chisinau, have discussed the opportunity to hold a joint meeting of the two countries’ governments, agreeing that this experience should become a permanent practice, Tariceanu said on Friday, June 29, during a press briefing following his meeting with Vasile Tarlev. The Romanian Prime Minister also said that he suggested the creation of a Romanian development and cooperation fund to contribute to the projects that Moldova considers important, given that there are a lot of areas that need assistance. According to Tariceanu, Romania is willing to offer all the necessary support to strengthen the institutional capacity, including by offering the European acquis translated into the Romanian language, which will spare Moldova from enormous efforts and expenses. The EU has opened its doors for Moldova, said Tariceanu, who visits Moldova officially for the first time. The fact that at the moment Moldova is a member state of some structures in the West Balkan region, which bring these countries closer to the EU, is welcome. Romania is backing Moldova in its efforts of becoming closer to the EU and will be the most devoted and constant supporter of Moldova’s European aspiration. Yet, a series of definite steps are needed for this thing to happen, the Romanian Prime Minister mentioned. Asked by reporters when Romania will sign the basic political Treaty with Moldova, Tariceanu said that this model is totally obsolete in European terms. The emphasis should rather be placed on the present and, above all, on the future relations between the two states. This agreement has to have as a base the uncontested fact that Moldova is a sovereign and independent country, he concluded. Vasile Tarlev said that during the discussions the parts have exchanged their opinions regarding the integration process of Moldova and the implementation of reforms and of the common projects. The collocutors centred on economic and trade-related matters. Also, according to Tarlev, the intensification of cooperation in some projects in the energy sector, including the construction of a power line Novodnestrovsk (Ukraine) – Balti – Suceava (Romania) was discussed. Referring to the opening of the two Romanian consulates in Balti and Cahul, the Prime Minister stated that it was decided that the experts will analyse the situation and if necessary, the two parts will do all that is required to exclude the inconveniences. According to Tarlev, the establishment of the joint visa application centre has diminished the actuality of this problem.