Continuation of the political dialogue and strengthening of cooperation between Moldova and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will be insistently promoted by both of the sides, Prime Minister Pavel Filip and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a joint news conference on March 30, IPN reports.
Pavel Filip stated that the Moldovan authorities are for developing the partnership with NATO in areas of common interest, in the spirit of the Partnership for Peace and based on the principle of constitutional neutrality of the Republic of Moldova. The Government will provide all the necessary support for the NATO Liaison Office to be opened in Chisinau in accordance with the signed agreement.
“Special attention was devoted to the process of defining the cooperation objectives that are to be included in the Republic of Moldova – NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan for 2017-2019. This document is almost ready and will be transmitted to the NATO Headquarters for consultation in the nearest future,” stated the Premier.
For his part, Jens Stoltenberg said the NATO Liaison Office in Chisinau, which is to be inaugurated this summer, will be a diplomatic mission that will have only civil employees, as in other states. NATO respects the independence, territorial integrity, sovereignty and neutrality of the Republic of Moldova. “We offer assistance to the Republic of Moldova in implementing the assumed reforms so that it consolidates good governance and its state institutions, including in the efforts aimed at fighting corruption,” stated Jens Stoltenberg.
Asked by a journalist what effects the signing by the President of Moldova Igor Dodon of the memorandum of cooperation with the CIS will have, Pavel Filip said this document will not have legal effects. Under the Constitution, the Head of State can initiate and signs international treaties, but these should be ratified by Parliament to have legal effects. Igor Dodon can sign the memorandum without consulting the executive and legislative power, but this will have no legal effect.
