Moldovan foreign minister visits Estonia
Deputy Premier, Foreign and European Integration Minister Iurie Leanca has visited Tallinn at the invitation of his Estonian counterpart Urmas Paet. The visit fit into Iurie Leanca's European tour, the Moldovan ministry's media and public relations department has said.
In Tallinn, Leanca met Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Parliament Speaker Ene Ergma and Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, who conveyed strong messages of support for the deep democratic changes underway in Moldova. The sides also signed an intergovernmental agreement on mutual promotion and protection of investments.
Leanca told a news conference held after discussions with the Estonian leaders that the intensity of the Moldovan-Estonian dialogue, the existing political dialogue as well as the mutual interest in its progress prove Moldova's commitment to the European values and confirm our firm trend of European integration.
The top diplomat thanked Estonia for having constantly supported the Moldovan government both at the bilateral and multilateral levels, particularly within European institutions. Leanca noted that the Moldovan government was fully aware of the complexity of tasks that it has to meet and of the importance for the Moldovan society to fully engage into the implementation of objectives set to meet the European integration goal. "The real actions of my country's government point out our firm decision to fulfil the top goal: accession to the EU," Leanca said.
Noting the importance of the launch of dialogue with the EU on the liberalization of the visa regime for Moldovans, the high Estonian officials said that the receptivity of the EU and its member states towards the positive signals coming from Chisinau depends on the activism of the Moldovan authorities, on Moldova's dynamic in the implementation of existing rigours. They added that this would extend the circle of Moldova's backers, among whom Estonia occupies a special position.
Iurie Leanca highly appreciated Estonia's role in the implementation of EU's assistance projects and its support within the informal group "Moldova's Friends". Both sides emphasized the opportunities in bilateral relations that have not been used yet, in particular in the trade and economic sector.
In this respect, Leanca pointed out the importance to sign the agreement on mutual promotion and protection of investments within this visit. The document is aimed at creating adequate conditions to further promote and continue bilateral economic relations.
The Transnistrian issue was also broached during the visit. The Estonian side was informed about the Moldovan authorities' actions to settle the conflict and bolster confidence between the two banks of the Dniester.
In Tallinn, Minister Iurie Leanca also met representatives of the Moldovan diaspora and gave an interview to the local publication Daily Newspaper Postimees.
Moldpres
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