NEWS

The President: The progress of the reforms in Moldova is an encouraging signal that the process of the country’s EU integration is irreversible

Moldova’s Foreign Ministry gave its consent to open a Bulgarian consular mission in Taraclia

President Rosen Plevneliev confirmed Bulgaria’s consistent support for Moldova’s European integration. The Head of State, who is on an official visit to Moldova at the invitation of the country’s President Nikolae Timofti, voiced his contentment with the progress of the reforms in Moldova and defined them as “an encouraging signal that the process of the country’s EU Integration is irreversible.” Bulgaria will continue to share its experience in this direction, the Bulgarian President added at a joint news conference with his Moldovan counterpart in Kishinev.

Rosen Plevneliev and Nikolae Timofti reconfirmed their agreement and voiced their contentment with the forthcoming opening of a consular mission, it emerged after the official talks between the two presidents. The expansion of the Bulgarian diplomatic presence in Moldova was also confirmed at the meeting President Rosen held with Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip within the 71^st session of the UN General Assembly in September 2016.

The opening of a Bulgarian consular mission in the region, where historically a Bulgarian national minority is concentrated, will improve the consular service of the Moldovan citizens, will stimulate the investment interest of the Bulgarian business and will promote the cultural ties and the educational exchange between the two countries, Head of State Rosen Plevneliev said.

The President highly appreciated the policy of the Moldovan institutions with respect to preserving the national, language and cultural identity of the Bulgarian community in the country. “We hope that within the territorial-administrative reform the region of Taraclia will be preserved,” the Head of State emphasized.

Bulgaria is ready to work together with the Moldovan authorities on starting a procedure for transforming the Taracliya State University “Grigorij Tsamblak” into a branch of a Bulgarian higher-education institution,  President Plevneliev further said. The new status of the university will make it possible to increase the number of the specialties taught at the university and will provide an opportunity for issuing European diplomas and will boost the prestige and attractiveness of the university in the region.

President Rosen Plevneliev voiced hope that his official visit in Kishinev will also give an impetus to the development of the relations between the two countries in other spheres of mutual interest, among which are education and culture, agriculture and foods, the trade and energy cooperation. “Strengthening the bilateral cooperation between Bulgaria and Moldova in all spheres, including in the process of reforms and European integration, is not only a contribution to the peace and stability in the region, but also a responsibility the peoples of our two countries will have to assume,” President Rosen Plevneliev emphasized.

“Bulgaria consistently and firmly supports the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Moldova and the international efforts to resolve the Pridnestrovie issue. We reject all attempts at separatism and violating Moldova’s integrity,” the Bulgarian Head of State further said after his official talks with President Timofti.

President Nikolae Timofti defined the talks he held with his Bulgarian counterpart as sincere and cordial. The Moldovan Head of State recalled that Bulgaria is one of the first EU member states that ratified the Association Agreement between the EU and Moldova. Bulgaria is a key partner in the dialogue between Moldova and the European institutions, President Timofti said.

The Bulgarian diaspora is an important part of the friendly relations between the two countries, and the Moldovan authorities constantly pool efforts to observe the rights of the national minorities and ensure conditions for preserving their identity,  Nikolae Timofti further said and highlighted the important role the Moldovan citizens of Bulgarian origin play in the social and political life.

President  Nikolae Timofti called on the Bulgarian business to recognize Moldova as an investments destination. “We are open to the Bulgarian business and we plead for deepening the relations in spheres such as healthcare, education, science and culture,” the Moldovan Head of State further said.

In Kishinev Head of State Rosen Plevneliev will hold talks with Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip and with Adrian Candu, Speaker of the Parliament of Moldova. A working meeting of the Bulgarian President with the President elect of Moldova Igor Dodon, at his request, is also planned.

On 16 November President Rosen Plevneliev will visit the region of Taraclia, where he will meet with representatives of the local authorities and will talk with students from the state university of Taraclia “Grigorij Tsamblak.” The talks with the alumni of the university will focus on the opportunities that Moldova’s European prospects will open up for the young people.