In the great national assemblies of 1989 and 1991, hundreds of thousands of Moldovans pleaded for the withdrawal from the USSR, being inspired by the Baltic countries. Now the same Baltic countries inspire the Moldovans to go to the EU. By initialing the Association Agreement with the EU, Moldova opens a new chapter in its history, Prime Minister Iurie Leanca said after the third EaP Summit held in Vilnius on November 28-29, IPN’s correspondent in Vilnius reports.

Iurie Leanca said that Moldova’s accession to the EU is a striving dream that starts to shape up now that the Association Agreement was signed. He stated he would like to say that the Moldovans’ life will improve from tomorrow, but they cannot work miracles and a lot of work is yet to be done to implement the provisions of the Association Agreement. “However, the realities are encouraging for us. After the liberalization of the airspace, many Moldovans felt the benefits of coming closer to the EU. They will soon feel one more advantage – the liberalization of the visa regime,” said the Moldovan Premier.

He added that he does not know reasons for which an EU member state can be against the liberalization of the visa regime for Moldova. “The next day after the European Commission proposed abolishing the visa requirements for Moldovans, I received a message from the president of an EU member state, who said that he supports this proposal,” stated Iurie Leanca.

The Premier said he does not see any obstacle to signing the Association Agreement next autumn at the latest. Hindrances can exist, but the government will communicate intensely with the people so as to explain what the European integration means for everyone.

Deputy Minister of Economy Octavian Calmac has told IPN that the provisions of the Association Agreement will be made public at the beginning of next week, by Monday evening. They will be published on the official websites of the EU and Moldova.