Popescu: Moldova's Foreign Policy Enters a New Phase

The foreign policy of the Republic of Moldova is entering a new active phase. In the coming weeks, Chisinau will be visited by foreign ministers and heads of states - strategic partners from the European space. This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nicu Popescu at a joint briefing with Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics, who is on a working visit to Moldova on August 16-18, ipn.md reports. To expedite the external factor, Chisinau is interested in further cooperation with Latvia both in the bilateral and in the European context, the official stressed. The Association Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the EU offers opportunities that need to be used and developed. "European integration is a key priority for our government. This means for us the deepening of relations, integration into the European Union, and transforming Moldova into a state governed in accordance with European norms and practices," the head of Moldovan diplomacy said. Noting the vaccines and equipment support of the Baltic countries during the pandemic, Nicu Popescu spoke about the intentions of the Moldovan authorities to promote state policy on reforming justice, fighting corruption, and modernizing the economy. "We want to deepen, intensify and expand our integration with the European Union in less developed areas from the Association Agreement, such as environmental protection, digitization, cooperation with the European Union in the field of security," Nicu Popescu said. The Minister of Foreign Affairs promised to sign soon a bilateral agreement with Latvia in the field of social protection of Moldovan citizens in the territory of this state, as well as to initiate a dialogue to recognize Moldovan driving licenses in Latvia.