Georgian president says came to support Moldovan people, but not parties
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has said that he came to Moldova "not to support a certain party, but to back the Moldovan people." He made this statement at a news briefing held jointly with acting President Mihai Ghimpu.
For the Georgian president, the today's visit to Moldova is the last stopover in a tour which included the participation in the Lisbon NATO Summit, a speech at the European Parliament, as well as bilateral meetings with EU member states' officials and presidents.
Asked by journalists why the visit is made only days before the parliamentary polls in Moldova, Mikhail Saakashvili said that he does not elaborate his agenda depending on the elections in one country or another. In the context, Mihai Ghimpu said: "We have been in an electoral campaign since December 2009. This does not mean that nobody should visit us."
The Georgian president paid a visit to Moldova ahead of the parliamentary election in 2005. At the time, the presence of Saakashvili was seen as support for Communist leader Vladimir Voronin. Asked to comment on Voronin's refusal to meet him during his current visit, Mikhail Saakashvili enumerated the heads of state whom he met during his tour. He stressed that "if somebody does not want to be on this list, this is their personal decision."
"At all my meetings, I felt that Moldova has more chances of European integration than ever before and than anybody else. I am pleased to come and back the Moldovan people which has such a prospect. We follow after you," Mikhail Saakashvii said. He emphasized that Moldova managed to advance most of all in terms of Eastern Partnership, whose member Georgia is too.
Referring to the forthcoming election, acting President Mihai Ghimpu said: "After 28 November, many will have reasons for happiness, many for sadness, but the Communists' time is over."
In the beginning of the news briefing, Mihai Ghimpu awarded Ordinul Republicii (Order of the Republic) to Mikhail Saakashvili as a token of deep gratitude. He thanked the Georgian president for assistance to construct houses for flood victims in Obileni, Hincesti district, central Moldova. After the event, the two heads of state went to visit the houses under construction.
Moldpres
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