The cooperation relations between Russia and Moldova have the prospects for a continuous development to the benefit of both parts, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Tuesday, February 24, at a news conference in Chisinau. He is on an official visit to Moldova. “Moldova not only holds the presidency of the CIS, but also has prepared a serious cooperation program between the states from the region. We have discussed the aspects of this development program, because in 2010, the presidency will be overtaken by Russia,” Lavrov said after a meeting with deputy minister of external affairs and European integration of Moldova Valeriu Ostalep. “We must intensively cooperate in all spheres, especially in economy in conditions of the global crisis, for an efficient usefulness of the economic potential. I mean the support of production, removing the problems of export and transit of power energy, produced on the territory of Moldova,” the Russian official underlined. “We have considered the bilateral Moldo-Russian relations and we have set the following steps in this direction, as well as the economic and trade relations, the Moldovan exports on the Russian market in conditions of the world financial crisis. We are delighted with such cooperation between the foreign ministries of both countries, in the context when Moldova holds the CIS presidency,” Valeriu Ostalep said. A release aired by the Presidency reads that, as to the Transnistrian problem, Sergey Lavrov emphasized at the meeting with Vladimir Voronin that Russia will take part in the future accomplishment of the agreements signed by those two heads of state – Vladimir Voronin and Dmitry Medvedev – and also in achieving progress in the definite settlement of the conflict. In this context, the Russian foreign minister mentioned the importance of a more efficient usage of the 5+2 format in settling the Transnistrian problem. Both president Vladimir Voronin and deputy minister Valeriu Ostalep appreciated Russia as an active partner and that the reintegration of the country, with the support of Russia, will open new horizons in the development of the Moldo-Russian cooperation in many aspects. The need to develop the bilateral Moldo-Russian relations was also discussed with premier Zinaida Greceanai. “Moldova has an open and integrated economy in the regional processes, that is why, as a president in the CIS constitutive bodies, I will opt for eliminating the artificial barriers in the movement of goods and citizens, for a closer integration into the community,” premier Zinaida Greceanai stated, quoted in a release of the Moldovan Government. According to the same source, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov appreciated that the bilateral relations with Moldova are developing in the spirit of partnership and the Moldo-Russian friendship agreement. “The Moldovan wines reacquire their place on the Russian market and they have a quota of about 11% now,” Sergey Lavrov stated. The intergovernmental Program on the cooperation in the humanitarian area for 2009-2010 was signed during his visit to Moldova. The Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs received a set of books with diplomatic literature. At the end of his visit, Sergey Lavrov participated in opening a Russian scientific and cultural center.