Valeriu Lazar is confident Moldova will sign gas agreement by year's end

Moldova's Deputy Prime Minister and concurrently Economy Minister Valeriu Lazar is confident that the negotiations with Gazprom will end in the signing of an agreement by the end of this year, together with an agreement on gas transit to the Balkans, Info-Prim Neo reports. “It's not only Moldova, but also our Russian partners who are interested in the signing of these agreements by the end of the year”, stated Lazar upon his return from the meeting of the CIS Economic Council in Russia. “During the bilateral meetings I had in Moscow I sought to convey to the Russian colleagues the message that Moldova is a serious partner”. According to him, Moldova works with all its cards on the table and has nothing to hide regarding its relations with the EU or its intention to join the European energy market. “We continue to be open and expect further investments from Russia into our energy market and in other areas as well”. Lazar said the talks with Gazprom would be immediately resumed after a meeting of the Energy Community to be held in Brussels during December 14-15. “At this meeting participants will discuss the implementation agenda of the Second and Third Energy Packages, including by the Republic of Moldova. The agenda needs to be devised in a manner that it does not affect property rights of Gazprom, which is the majority shareholder in Moldovagaz. This plan also should not affect other agreements with Russia, such as the Agreement on Mutual Protection of Investments”. Concerning the purchase price of gas, Lazar said it was agreed at the expert level of negotiations that it would be “slightly lower, yet lower” than in quarter four this year. “However, let's not anticipate. We are looking forward to the resumption of talks with Gazprom”.