The visit of the new Foreign Minister of the Republic of Moldova

Recently sworn into office, Moldova's Foreign Minister Mihai Popșoi paid his first external visit to Romania

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Bogdan Matei, 07.02.2024, 14:00

An enclave between Romania and Ukraine, a country invaded by
Russian troops, the Republic of Moldova is on the front line of Kremlin’s
hybrid war, Romania’s Foreign Minister Luminița Odobescu said on Tuesday during her
meeting with her Moldovan counterpart, Mihai Popșoi, who paid his first external visit since taking
office to Romania. The last couple of years have been extremely difficult on
the pro-Western administration in Chișinău, faced with unrepedenced
destabilization and challenges orchestrated by Moscow, Minister Odobescu said.

Unfortunately to those who fund such initiatives and fortunately
for the Republic of Moldova, Chișinău resisted
and will continue to resist. Moldova is consolidating its institutional capacity,
it is undergoing a full-fledged reform process and, more importantly, it is
firmly committed to its EU integration.

The Romanian top diplomat also reiterated Romania’s support for
the European integration of its neighbor. Last December the European Commission
decided to officially launch EU accession talks with Moldova, an EU candidate
state. As always, Romania is the most vocal and consistent supporter of this
project. Moldova’s Foreign Minister, Mihai Popșoi.

In the current context, I have been assured once again that
Romania will continue to provide us with overriding, comprehensive and robust
support in our efforts to consolidate energy security, develop energy
infrastructure, further our European integration as well as develop our
institutional capacity in order to effectively implement reforms in the
Republic of Moldova.

Continuing and consolidating strategic relations with Romania at
all levels remains a top priority for the Republic of Moldova, Mihai Popșoi told Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.
In turn, the latter argued in favor of developing joint projects of interest to
the citizens of both countries, in such fields as energy interconnectivity,
road and rail transport. Romania is Moldova’s number one trade partner and is
the primary source of investors, Minister Popșoi said, adding that the number of companies with
Romanian capital is on the rise in Moldova. In addition, both Bucharest and Chișinău have
reiterated the fact that the Russian Federation’s acts of aggression against Ukraine
represent a serious violation of international law, and that Kyiv’s victory is
key to ensuring security and stability in the Black Sea region. (VP)