Senior official Ciamba, Moldova's Defence StateSec Manzarari discuss Moldova-NATO co-operation

Secretary of State for Euro-Atlantic Bilateral and Strategic Affairs with the Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE) George Cimaba welcomed on Wednesday visiting State Secretary with the Moldovan Defence Ministry Dumitru Manzarari, according to a MAE press statement.

On this occasion, the latest developments in the relationship between Moldova and Romania was reviewed, with emphasis on defence, and potential areas to enlarge joint initiatives were assessed.

Ciamba reconfirmed Romania's full support for the European journey of the Republic of Molodva and voiced conviction that this path will be maintained and strengthened.

"He encouraged the continuation of reforms to modernise the Moldovan state, which are also able to contribute to the country meeting its commitments under the Association Agreement with the EU. He also commended the Republic of Moldova for its interest in deepening security and defence co-operation with the EU," MAE points out.

Hailing the existing co-operation between Moldova and NATO, Ciamba mentioned the implementation of a NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme for the destruction of dangerous pesticides and chemicals in Moldova, for which Romania is a coordinating state, as an initiative that confirms the benefits of this partnership to the citizens of Moldova, according to MAE.

Ciamba also stressed the necessity for Molodva to capitalise on the existing co-operation instruments at NATO level, especially through further implementation of the Defence and Related Security Capacity Building Initiative. AGERPRES (RO - author: Oana Ghita, editor: Florin Marin; EN - author: Rodica State, editor: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu)