Popescu: Moldova Wants to Normalize Relations with the Russian Federation

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Niku Popescu, considers his first visit to Moscow as “the beginning of joint work to normalize relations between Moldova and Russia.” He noted on Wednesday at a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that “recent years have been difficult for Moldovan-Russian relations, a period of certain misunderstanding and different approaches to solving a lot of accumulated problems,” infotag.md reports. “Relations with the Russian Federation are one of the most important areas of the foreign policy of the new government of the Republic of Moldova, so during the dialogue we noted the importance of restoring trade and economic ties, the current state of which neither meets the interests of our countries nor our capabilities,” said the Moldovan diplomat.   He emphasized “the need to remove all existing barriers to the access of Moldovan goods to the Russian market”, based on “the fact that both countries participate in the Commonwealth of Independent States Free Trade Area”. In his opinion, “FTA CIS and DCFTA do not contradict each other.” “The sensitive issue of the Transnistrian settlement deserves special attention. The important role of the Russian Federation, along with other mediators and observers in the 5+2 format, is noted. Chisinau counts on Russia’s support in determining a viable political solution to the Transnistrian issue on the basis of respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova,” Popescu said. Point