If it weren't for the creation of the Free Trade Area, Moldova's negotiations on the Association Agreement with the EU would probably be over now, thinks Valeriu Gheorghiu, department head at the Moldovan Ministry for Foreign Affairs and European Integration. “There are only several issues left within the chapter of economic and sectoral cooperation, but in other respects four key chapters are practically closed and we could sign the Association Agreement in the near future, if it weren't for negotiations on the creation of the Free Trade Area”, said Valeriu Gheorghiu at the latest press club event held by the Foreign Policy Association. Gheorghiu stressed that, while the dialogue on the visa issue between Russia and the EU has been lasting for 8 years, and between Ukraine and the EU for 3 years, the negotiations with Moldova were initiated only 6 months ago. “We are ahead of Russia and, in many respects, ahead of Ukraine as well. For example, we are issuing only biometric passports, which is a strong argument in our favor”. Concerning the Free Trade Agreement, while Ukraine has had 17 rounds of negotiations, in Moldova's case they haven't yet started. “There are also other differences between us and Ukraine. Ukraine has issues like nuclear energy, dockyards, fishery, mining, which are sensible issues for the EU and which we don't have. What we can say for sure is that it will last less in our case”, said Valeriu Gheorghiu. He added that the negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement could be completed by the end of this year. “But this is true for the negotiation phase only, not yet for the implementation. Because all the chapters of our Association Agreement provide that we must adopt a list of EU legal standards and almost on every issue we agreed that postponements will be in place, lasting from 6 months to 9 years.” Negotiations on the EU-Moldova Association Agreement were launched on 12 January 2010.