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Slovakia vows support for Moldova's EU aspirations

February 11, 2010
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Deputy Premier, Foreign and European Integration Minister Iurie Leanca paid an official visit to Slovakia on 9 February following an invitation by his counterpart, Miroslav Lajcak. The visit was part of Leanca's diplomatic tour in a number of European capitals, the Moldovan ministry's media and public relations department has said.

The two ministers discussed a wide spectrum of bilateral issues, focusing mainly on Slovakia's further support for Moldova's European integration path.

Miroslav Lajcak said that Slovakia "has much sympathy for Moldova, which creates a very favourable foundation for the development of dynamic bilateral cooperation in various sectors". The minister said he understands the difficulties faced by the Moldovan authorities because Slovakia too had crossed a period of transition from an authoritarian to a democratic government.

Pointing out the importance to mobilize efforts at internal level, the Slovak minister emphasized that Moldova needs friends at external level. In the context, he welcomed the recent launch of the Club of Moldova's Friends in Brussels, which is an important instrument in the promotion of Moldova's European aspirations. In its tenure of active member of the club, Slovakia will undertake effective actions to create a positive opinion about Moldova within the EU given that "your success is in our common interest".

The Slovak top diplomat said that the Eastern Partnership is a project offering very good opportunities, which Moldova has the possibility to use in order to prove its irreversible option for European integration. Slovakia sees cooperation with Moldova in this project as a priority and is willing to provide the necessary assistance, he said.

The minister also said that Slovakia would actively back Moldova at a meeting of donors due in Brussels on 24 March, including through significant financial contribution. Miroslav Lajcak specified that in its tenure of chairman-in-office of the Visegrad Group (Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary), Slovakia would promote Moldova's interests starting June by organizing special V4+Moldova meetings.

Referring to the component elements that ensure successful European integration, Lajcak talked about the need to secure good cooperation between the authorities and civil society, which plays a role of utmost importance in the promotion of integration messages among the population. In this respect, Slovak NGOs will meet Moldovan colleagues in Chisinau in the near future to jointly identify needs in the European integration process.

Iurie Leanca thanked for the assistance offered to Moldova and for Slovakia's openness to the development of cooperation with Moldova in political, economic and humanitarian issues. He said that the Slovak government's assessments of Moldova's needs fully meet the Moldovan side's opinion on the matter. The minister talked about internal and external evolutions in Moldova, particularly paying attention to the European integration issue.

On the basis of the cooperation memorandum between the economics ministries of the two countries, the Slovak side offered to organize the first meeting of the joint intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation due in Chisinau in late May 2010.

In line with the visit's agenda, the head of the Moldovan diplomacy had meetings with other Slovak officials, including the deputy chairman of the National Council, Miroslav Ciz, the chairman of the committee for external relations of the National Council, Juraj Horvath, Interior Minister Robert Kalinak, as well as representatives of civil society.

Moldpres, Moldova's state news agency

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