The Latvian authorities supported the Republic of Moldova for many years and will continue to assist it in 2008 too, especially in implementing reforms, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Maris Riekstins said at a news conference held in concert with the Moldovan Foreign Minister Andrei Stratan in Chisinau on February 5. Latvia’s position is plain – the states that fulfil the Copenhagen criteria can join any European institution. Latvia is waiting for the European Commission’s progress report to decide what steps to take next to help Moldova come closer to the EU, the Latvian official said. Latvia considers that Moldova should preserve its territorial integrity and that the talks on the Transnistria settlement in the 5+2 format should be resumed as soon as possible. The confidence building measures proposed by Vladimir Voronin are a good step in this direction, Maris Riekstins said. Foreign Minister Andrei Stratan said that at the meeting with the Latvian official they discussed the political, economic and social relations between the two states, including the bilateral cooperation, Moldova’s aspirations for European integration and the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict. While in Moldova, Maris Riekstins will meet with President Vladimir Voronin, Speaker Marian Lupu and Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev.