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Moldovan premier meets Ukrainian president
 Chisinau, 2 February /MOLDPRES/ - Prime Minister Vlad Filat met Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych today, the government's communication and press relations department has said.
Attending the meeting were Deputy Premier, Economics Minister Valeriu Lazar, and Deputy Foreign and European Integration Minister Andrei Popov.
The officials discussed a wide range of problems on the Moldovan-Ukrainian relations. Both sides spoke in favour of maintaining the positive dynamic of the bilateral cooperation.
The Ukrainian president welcomed the visit to Kiev by Prime Minister Vlad Filat, as well as the recent consolidation of the Moldovan-Ukrainian dialogue.
"The dialogue meets our principles, and is a proof of the friendly platform existing between our countries," Viktor Yanukovych stressed.
The Ukrainian head of state pointed out that 2012 is a jubilee year for the Moldova-Ukraine ties. He voiced confidence that this year will be important for the development of bilateral relations.
"The lack of political problems between our countries creates pre-requisites and adds trust to our relations, so that we move forward and deepen and extend bilateral cooperation," the Ukrainian president also said.
The prime minister noted that the most important progress resides in the fact that the bilateral ties were unblocked and bilateral dialogue between Moldova and Ukraine was boosted. Several high-level bilateral visits took place, business forums and other actions were organized.
Vlad Filat said Moldova is interested in the settlement of the most topical problems on the bilateral agenda, the development of economic cooperation and mutual backing within international organizations of which the two countries are members. The prime minister expressed hope that the creation of the Dniestre Euro-region will give a fresh impetus to bilateral relations.
The prime minister emphasized Ukraine's role in the Transnistrian conflict settlement process, especially in the context of the OSCE chairmanship which Ukraine will take over in 2013. Vlad Filat highly appreciated the support provided by the Ukrainian side to settle this conflict in line with the principle of Moldova's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The prime minister thanked the Ukrainian administration for the initiative to organize a meeting between the Chisinau and Tiraspol leadership in Odessa. Filat voiced hope that the settlement of the issues agreed upon at this meeting - resumption of the railway traffic, telecommunications, the situation in the Security Zone - will open prospects for starting discussions on political issues.
At the same time, the prime minister hailed Ukraine's stance on the need to transform the present peacekeeping mission. He underlined that Moldova declares for starting consultations on the mission's transformation into a civilian mission under international mandate.
Vlad Filat stressed the importance of continuing the border demarcation process, especially on the Transnistrian segment.
At the same time, the prime minister reiterated Moldova's willingness to find solutions to all the existing problems, according to the principle of mutual trust, constructive approach and in a European spirit.
At the meeting, the sides referred to the need to implement the agreements reached at the 13th meeting of the inter-governmental commission for economic cooperation held in Chisinau on 10-11 November 2011. The officials laid the emphasis on the agreements focused on the juridical status of the Moldovan patrimony facilities situated in Ukraine. The next meeting of the commission is to take place in Kiev this spring.
The sides also appreciated that the trade exchanges between the two countries stood at 716.6 million dollars in January-November 2011, - up by 159.5 million dollars or 28.6 per cent against the similar period of the year before. Vlad Filat specified that Ukraine ranks third among Moldova's economic partners, with 270 enterprises with Ukrainian capital working in Moldova.
The officials also tackled the energy problem. In the context, the sides highlighted the collaboration in this sector and strengthening the energy security in both states. They appreciated the development of the regional energy market, as well as the importance of common projects in terms of integration of Moldova and Ukraine in the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E).
The officials also discussed the need to simplify the procedure of crossing the Moldovan-Ukrainian border by creating a joint control by the competent services from the two countries. A first test in this respect is to be carried out at the Briceni-Rososani border checkpoint on 21 February 2012, with the other checkpoints due to take over this experience in the long run as well. The sides spoke out in favour of bolstering cooperation between the Ukrainian, Moldovan and Romanian customs bodies, in order to facilitate the trade relations.
The two officials also discussed the motor and railway transport, as well as the restoration of highways between the two countries, with the possibility of drawing in European funds.
The participants in the meeting referred to problems faced by ethnic Moldovans living in Ukraine, as well as the ethnic Ukrainians from Moldova. The sides spoke in favour of organizing joint cultural actions, given that the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Moldova and Ukraine is marked in 2012.
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