Friday, 04 October 2013 15:00
Estonia is a convinced supporter of the Republic of Moldova's integration with Europe, President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves stated at a press briefing in Chisinau on Friday following a meeting with his Moldovan colleague, President Nicolae Timofti.
The high Baltic guest stated also his country's support for signing the Association Agreement between Moldova and the European Union and for providing this republic with a visa-free regime with Europe. He believes this would be an incentive for Moldova – the country "demonstrating one of best results in the Eastern Partnership Program".
"We have always supported your efforts, for we know how hard it is to achieve European goals. This is a very complicated process, but I hope it will go faster here than in Estonia", said Toomas Hendrik Ilves.
He assured, "You may count on us. One doesn't have to be a meteorologist to know where the wind blows from. Presently it is blowing from Europe".
The Estonian President thinks that the judiciary reform in Moldova will achieve success only when judges' mentality is changed.
"Justice is a sphere where reforms advance slowly because everything depends on mentality. A change of mentality takes long. We faced the same problem 15 years ago. Estonia had to go through lots of trainings, seminars and teachings before our judges began understanding the ideas which the European judiciary system is based on", said Toomas Hendrik Ilves.
In his words, Estonia, like Moldova these days, also used to come across Russia's pressure.
"In the East, you can realize goods of any quality. But if you want to trade with the West, you have to offer only high-quality products", said the Estonian President.
Nicolae Timofti thanked his Estonian colleague for visiting Chisinau "in the current hard times", and said he perceives his visit as a sign of solidarity with Moldova.
"Estonia constantly backs Moldova from highest international tribunes. With Estonia's help, we will hopefully initial in Vilnius and then sign the Association Agreement with the European Union", said the Moldovan President.
Timofti stressed that on its Euro-integration path, Moldova is suffering the pressure of pro-Russia forces both at home and outside the republic, "but the country has made its development course and is not going to turn off this road".
Infotag's dossier: The Association Agreement will create a new contractual framework for EU-Moldova relations, replacing the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement which entered into force in 1998. The future agreement will deepen the political association and economic integration of the Republic of Moldova and the EU. Its principal objective will be to draw Moldova closer to the EU through commitments across a range of areas, based on a strong degree of approximation to EU laws and standards. These areas will include enhancing political cooperation, reinforcing joint measures in migration, asylum, border management, drugs and crime, expanding economic relations, and increasing co-operation in critical sectors such as energy, environment, transport and public health, with a direct impact on citizens' daily lives and on the business environment.
Original article on the Infotag News Agency webpage.
