Turkey pledges support for Moldova on its path to European integration

Turkey is one of the most active supporters of Moldova’s European integration aspirations and is willing to contribute to the affirmation of the pro-western vector of the Moldovan population, Mehmet Dulger, Chairman of the Committee for Foreign Affairs of Turkey’s Great National Assembly stated at a meeting with Speaker of Parliament Marian Lupu. According to a press release from the Parliament the head of the Committee for Foreign Affairs of the Great National Assembly of Turkey said that his country will support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova and pleads in favour of peaceful settlement of the Transnistrian conflict. In this context, the MP emphasised the necessity of respecting the international engagements assumed at the Istanbul OSCE Summit in 1999. Mehmet Dulger said that Turkey is interested in creating a peaceful region in the Black Sea zone and settling good cooperation relations between countries in the region. Marian Lupu highly appreciated the standpoint of Turkey’s official regarding the Transnistrian settlement both within the frameworks of bilateral cooperation with other states and in the relations with the regional and international organisations. The speaker of Parliament thanked the Turkish authorities for the financial support offered to Moldova via the “TIKA” Agency for Collaboration and Development. Lupu has especially appreciated the support offered to Gagauzia region, which is very important for the economic development of the autonomous region. The Delegation of Turkey is on a visit to Moldova from January 24 to January 27.