President Vladimir Voronin, Romanian Foreign Minister Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu discuss issues of Moldovan-Romanian relations

Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin and Romanian Foreign Minister Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu have discussed issues related to the Moldovan-Romanian relations. According to a presidential press service, the sides indicated the positive nature of cooperation relations between the two countries within key international institutions, regional initiatives and processes, especially those in the South-East European and Pontiac area. They highlighted the progress of Moldova and Romania in accomplishing the European integration objectives and perspectives that open to Moldova, in particular, after the next wave of the E.U. enlargement is completed in 2007and the implementation of the E.U. Action Plan for Moldova is finalised. In this context, the Romanian foreign minister reiterated that the introduction of the visa regime for Moldovan citizens is exclusively conditioned by obligations that Romania must fulfil for the E.U. member status. Under these conditions, the Romanian authorities will facilitate the new travel regime for Moldovan citizens to Romania at maximum, reducing the inconveniences for Moldovan citizens to minimum, Ungureanu promised. Also, Ungureanu stressed that the finalisation of a basic legal framework that regulates the political status of relations between Moldova and Romania, as well as the regime of state border between the two states result from the need to adjust Romania to the E.U. entry criteria. Speaking about cooperation between Moldova and Romania in the South-East European area, Ungureanu assured President Voronin of the support of his country for Moldova’s application for full rights membership to the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) at the high level meeting of this arrangement. In the context, the Moldovan president appreciated the constructive stance of Romania for the situation in the energy sector of Moldova and readiness of Romanian authorities to ensure Moldova with electricity in case of need. According to the presidential press service, the foreign minister noted that his country will continue to promote the importance of Moldova’s full rights membership to the Energy Treaty in South-East Europe in the dialogue with regional and European partners. As regards the Transnistrian problem, the Moldovan presidency quoted Ungureanu as saying that the integrity, sovereignty and political unity of Moldova represent the key principle for development of the process of integration of Moldova, assuring that Romania is constantly supporting the fulfilment of this objective.