President Dalia Grybauskaitė met with Prime Minister Vladimir Filat of Moldova.
The President underlined that Moldova had made great progress in terms of euro-integration, but protracted internal conflicts in the recent years were hindering the implementation of structural reforms significant for the people and economy of the country.
"Moldova is considered as one of the most successfully developing countries in the EU's Eastern neighborhood, yet internal discord poses an obstacle for the smooth process of reforms, impairing the image of Moldova in Europe. It is highly important to find an acceptable compromise and proceed on the path to Europe," she said.
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According to Dalia Grybauskaitė, the continuity of reforms is primarily important for Moldova as it will consolidate the standards of democracy, human and civil rights, promote intensive economic relations with the EU, and will open Europe for the people of Moldova.
The President said that Lithuania actively supported Moldova's efforts, helping to reform its legal framework, customs, and to implement EU standards.
Speaking about the protracted Transnistrian conflict, Moldova's Prime Minister underlined that this year, during Lithuania's OSCE chairmanship, negotiations between Chisinau and Tiraspol had advanced. According to Vladimir Filat, his country is ready to accept Lithuania's proposal to resume official negotiations on conflict regulation already this year in Vilnius.
The President urged the Moldovan representatives to continue implementing the measures that enhanced trust between Chisinau and Tiraspol as well as to restore direct telecommunications and cargo carriage by rail transport.
Dalia Grybauskaitė and Vladimir Filat also touched on the consolidation of bilateral economic cooperation. Lithuanian business people are interested in waste utilization technologies, manufacture of water treatment facilities, food production and export possibilities in Moldova.
The Moldovan Prime Minister during his visit in Lithuania is accompanied by a business delegation. The business people of both countries discussed the potential for enhancing business contacts, trade and investment at the Lithuanian-Moldovan Economic Forum.
Press Service of the Lituanian President
24.10.2011
