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Members of the Seimas

Speaker of the Seimas: ‘the future of Moldova and other Eastern Partnership countries depends on Ukraine’s victory’

Press release, 31 May 2022 

 

On the initiative of Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, a meeting of the Speakers of the Nordic and Baltic (NB8) Parliaments is held in Chisinau, Moldova. In the framework of the NB8 format, the Speakers express solidarity with Moldova, discuss regional security and EU integration. Lithuania, as the coordinator of the NB8 cooperation this year, notes that regardless of the war in Ukraine, the international community should also keep the interests of other Eastern Partnership countries in mind. This point was made at the meetings of the Speakers of the NB8 Parliaments with Igor Grosu, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, and Natalia Gavrilițas, Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova.

Photo by Džoja Gunda Barysaitė, Office of the Seimas

 

‘The outcome of Ukraine’s war for the cause of freedom and territorial integrity will determine the fate of the Eastern Partnership and other countries. For this reason Ukraine’s victory is crucial. We must therefore pool all our efforts to help Ukraine achieve it. At the same time, other Eastern Partnership countries need strengthening, too. I have pointed out to Mr Grosu that Lithuania recognised Moldova’s need for international support on its path towards becoming a Western democracy. I believe that this visit will help Moldova to strengthen its position both in relation to the EU and in other formats,’ Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen said.

 

According to the Speaker of the Seimas, the international support for Moldova should be wide-ranging to encompass political, economic, and security aspects and help Moldova overcome the challenges it faces.

 

‘I personally had the opportunity to discuss these challenges during my first visit to Moldova this year, before the war in Ukraine. Admittedly, the situation has deteriorated now as new challenges resulting from the war in Ukraine emerged in addition to the existing socio-economic, energy and pandemic-related issues. It is unacceptable that Russia is threatening Moldova in many ways, including attempts to destabilise the situation in Transnistria. Transnistria is part of Moldova, and we fully support Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its government’s efforts to prevent further escalation of this crisis,’ Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen said.

 

However, according to the Speaker of the Seimas, even in this difficult period the reforms underway should not be suspended or abandoned.

 

‘The reforms will enhance Moldova’s resilience, sovereignty, and independence and facilitate reaching its EU membership aspirations, as the reform progress will be a decisive factor for making relevant decisions in the EU. In my today’s meetings with the Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament and the Prime Minister, I have underlined that Lithuania consistently supported Moldova’s EU membership perspective and was committed to providing a wide range of support to facilitate a more rapid achievement of Moldova’s objectives,’ Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen asserted.

 

The Speaker of the Seimas is scheduled to meet with the leadership of the political groups of the Moldovan Parliament and representatives of NGOs. She will also visit a centre for war refugees from Ukraine. Moldova has accepted up to half a million war refugees since the beginning of the war.

Photo by Džoja Gunda Barysaitė, Office of the Seimas

 

Ilona Petrovė, Spokesperson for Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6030, mob. +370 698 42071, e-mail: [email protected]

 

 

   Last updated on 06/01/2022 16:08
   Monika Kutkaitytė