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Posted by: Mazur Rodica

News / Political

12 Sep. 2019 / 12:24

Nicu Popescu: We want to normalize relations with Russia

The Government of the Republic of Moldova intends to normalize relations with the Russian Federation. A statement on this issue was made today by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Nicu Popescu, returning from his visit to Moscow, where he had meetings with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov as well as with Russian officials from the State Duma and the Council. Federation. At the same time, the minister also referred to the opportunity to improve trade-economic relations with the Russian Federation, a key criterion of dialogue with the Moscow authorities being the reopening of the Russian market for Moldovan products.

"We discussed with the Russian Federation the relaunch and unblocking of our economic relations. Last year, only eight percent of Moldova's exports went to the Russian market. We believe that these exports can increase, we think it is important for our citizens that the Republic of Moldova should export more to the Russian Federation. These things mean salaries, jobs in Moldova and for us it is a priority. We, as a country, wish to return to a trade regime in bilateral relations with Russia under the Free Trade Agreement, signed within the CIS in 2012, without restrictions and the fact that this Free Trade Agreement with other CIS countries is not in contradiction with our Association Agreement and the provisions of the Free Trade Zone that we have with the EU ”the Minister Nicu Popescu said .

Nicu Popescu also said that he discussed with the Russian authorities the return to a trade regime in bilateral relations with Russia under the Free Trade Agreement, signed within the CIS in 2012, noting that this agreement is not in contradiction with the Association Agreement at European Union.

"Our desire as Government is for the Republic of Moldova to return to the bilateral trade regime with the Russian Federation under the provisions of the Free Trade Agreement within the CIS. This Paper Agreement should determine the criteria and conditions under which our exporters export goods to the Russian Federation market, but this Agreement does not apply to bilateral trade and progress towards liberalizing and re-opening access to our goods on the Russian Federation market is a paramount criterion. in the discussions that we will have with the Russian Federation in the coming weeks ”, specified Nicu Popescu.

Next week, on September 18 and 19, in Chisinau, the Moldova-Russia Intergovernmental Commission will meet, and on September 20 and 21, a second edition of the Moldovan-Russian Economic Forum will be organized, attended by approximately 1,000 business representatives.

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