- Reset +

President Ilves to the Chairman of Moldova’s Parliament: the greater the success you achieve, the more the European Union will want to support you

04.09.2007

“For Estonia, Moldova is one of the priority countries in respect to the European Union Neighborhood Policy, as well as bilateral and multilateral developmental cooperation,” said President Toomas Hendrik Ilves at yesterday’s meeting with Marian Lupu, the Chairman of Moldova’s Parliament in Kadriorg.

Estonia’s aid and support for Moldova is focused on improving the capability of the public sector, on help for the establishment of an e-state system, and on environmental projects.

President Ilves confirmed that Estonia is ready to share its support and reform experiences with Moldova to help it move in the direction of Europe, although he emphasized that “the strongest motor for Moldova’s development is still the steps that Moldova must take itself.”

“The European Union can provide Moldova with a specific outlook for the future, but your relations with the European Union depend more on your homework and capabilities than on your location or historical affiliation,” said the Estonian Head of State. “Therefore, dedicate yourselves primarily to the promotion of the Moldovan state and society, the achievement of economic success, and increase your exports to the European Union member states. The greater the success you achieve, the more the European Union and the member states will want to help and support you.”

President Ilves stressed that transparency, good administrative practices and a contemporary management style are important for the strengthening of Moldova’s statehood, which means that the electorate must not be promised what the European Union cannot provide in the near future.

“Moldova should use the existing opportunities for approaching the European Union, and the meaningful implementation of the Neighborhood Policy plan is very important,” said President Ilves.

According to the Estonian Head of State, the resolution of the situation in separatist Transnistria must be dealt with actively and effectively, and in this regard, Estonia supports greater involvement on the part of the European Union in the search for solutions.

“The continuation of frozen conflicts is a serious threat to security and stability in both Moldova and South Caucasia,” declared President Ilves. “The persistence of the status quo “freezes” these conflicts even further and may unfortunately prompt the parties to undertake unexpected steps.”

The Estonian Head of State repeated, “Russia must fulfill the obligations it accepted at the OSCE summit meeting in Istanbul and remove its troops from Moldova’s territory—from Transnistria.

“This and the current change in the peacekeeping format lead by Russia is a powerful prerequisite for the solution of the problem,” said President Ilves.

He announced that Estonia, which has sent three border guards and two customs officials to the Moldova-Ukraine border, supports the extension of the EUBAM border mission for the next two years.

 

Office of the President
Public Relations Department
Phone +372 631 6229