NATO backs cooperation with Moldova on updated IPAP

The reunion of the North-Atlantic Council of NATO took place in Brussels on September 10 discussing the development of Moldova's implementing the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP), on the basis of the report of the NATO evaluation report from March this year. The representatives of the NATO-member states backed the further cooperation of Moldova with NATO on the basis of an updated IPAP , Info-Prim Neo has learnt from the Ministry of External Affairs and European Integration. They have worded a series of suggestions on the future implementation of Plan, expressing availability to provide assistance. They highly appreciated Moldova's participation in peace-keeping operations. The allies univocally stand for Moldova;s territorial integrity and greeted Chisinau's efforts to settle the Transnistrian issue exclusively peacefully, in the 5+2 format, the communique reads. Moldovan Foreign Minister Andrei Stratan has presented a report on the progresses in implementing the IPAP and the further priorities in reforming the security and defense sector. He mentioned the key political documents as the National Security Concept of Moldova, based on the constitutional neutrality and the start of work on neighbor documents. The same day, Andrei Stratan and Defense Minister Vitalie Vrabie have met with NATO's secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. He confirmed his respect for Moldova's neutrality and expressed the Alliance's availability to continue the cooperation with Moldova. The sides exchanged opinions as to the latest developments in settling the Transnistrian issue, peacefully, in the 5+2 format. Vice premier Andrei Stratan thanked for NATO's supporting Moldova's a sovereignty and territorial integrity. They also appreciated the firm position of the Alliance in the Adapted Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty, especially in terms of observing the Istanbul commitments of 1999.