Chisinau, 5 July /MOLDPRES/ - Moldova and the United Kingdom (UK) will work out a permanent consultation mechanism to make sure that the European Union (EU) Action Plan for Moldova is implemented as effectively as possible, the Foreign and European Integration Ministry's press service has said.
Moldovan Deputy Foreign Minister Valeriu Ostalep and an adviser to the British prime minister, Kim Darroh, have reached an agreement to this effect during a meeting held within Ostalep's 3-5 July working visit to the UK.
Ostalep asked the United Kingdom to back Moldova s efforts to approach the European integration process as pragmatically and efficiently as possible. Moldova is extremely interested in the Great Britain s assessment, and especially the assessment of the British experts in European issues, he said.
Ostalep also met the head of the British parliament's committee for foreign policy, Mike Gapes. Ostalep informed the MP about the Moldova-EU cooperation level and Moldova's prime goals in this respect. The Transnistrian problem settlement, and EU's role in this process was the centrepiece of the two officials' meeting.
During a discussion with the head of the United Kingdom - Moldova parliamentary friendship group, lord Alfred Dubs, and a group member, lord Hugh John Maxwell Dykes, the sides emphasized the increasing interest to develop the interparliamentary relations. And a visit to Chisinau by the United Kingdom - Moldova parliamentary friendship group, which is scheduled for next autumn, is eloquent in this respect.
Meeting officials in charge of Moldova at the Department for International Development (DFID), Ostalep approached the stage of collaboration with this structure, as well as explored possibilities to extend the cooperation in the most important for Moldova sectors, particularly the European integration, the implementation of the EU Action Plan for Moldova, and cooperation with the civil society and mass media in this process.
During a visit to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the sides focused on regional security and the Transnistrian problem.
On the same day, Valeriu Ostalep gave an interview to the BBC radio.
On 3 July 2006, the Moldovan deputy foreign and European integration minister paid a visit to Edinburgh. Ostalep visited the Scottish parliament, and had a courtesy meeting with Scottish Prime Minister Jack McConnell.
