Moldova counts on Council of Europe’s support in solving Transnistrian crisis

Moldova counts on the support of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in defining the cooperation framework with the European Union after fulfilling the Action Plan RM–EU, President Vladimir Voronin stated at Thursday meeting, July 27, with PACE chairman Rene van der Linden, making an official visit to RM. According to the Presidential Press Service, Vladimir Voronin welcomed the visit of the CE high official in Chisinau, considering as constructive and positive the contacts between the Moldovan authorities and PACE leadership. Those 11 years of cooperation within the Council of Europe meant for RM a continuous movement towards democratic values, and starting 2003, due to the intense dialogue with PACE, RM got on an ascendant path into achieving European standards in all the fields, the head of the state noted. Rene van der Linden noted the evolution of RM as regards the achievement of the assumed commitments within CoE, especially in the area of adjusting the legislation, re-assuring the Moldovan authorities of the whole support of PACE in order to implement the adopted legislative framework. Van der Linden also underscored that the monitoring exercise of CoE has an exclusive benefic effect upon the European integration perspective of the country. In the context, Vladimir Voronin mentioned that the good pace in implementing the Action Plan RM–EU is mainly due to the cooperation experience within CoE. The requirements imposed by CoE in different matters are appropriate to EU standards, which RM is ready to implement before starting concrete talks on adhesion, the head of the state highlighted. Rene van der Linden expressed PACE willingness to contribute to RM progress regarding the dialogue with EU. „Moldova is a very good example, being a country where CE holds an advanced activity, and which is, at the same time, in active partnership with EU and OSCE”, PACE chairman underlined. During the meeting, Vladimir Voronin and Rene van der Linden also discussed the possibilities of involving the Council of Europe in peaceful resolving of the Transnistrian issue.