Moldova’s embassy in Bucharest plays a key role in maintaining strong and diversified ties between Republic of Moldova and Romania. H.E. Iurie Reniţă, Moldova’s Ambassador to Romania since 2010, discusses Moldova’s links to Romania and to the EU.
European Times: How would you describe relations between Republic of Moldova and Romania?
H.E. Iurie Reniţă: Before coming to Romania as Ambassador, relations between our countries had been damaged because of conflicting policy promoted by communist regime in Chisinau. I have been focusing on promoting our two countries’ many links, including our common language, traditions and history. My major objective was to re-establish normal relations between our two countries. I have received the full support of the leading Alliance for European Integration in Chisinau as well as of all government institutions in Romania, including the President, President of Senate, Speaker of Parliament, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Now, I am happy to say that the goal I was assigned has been accomplished, and the current stage of cooperation between Chisinau and Bucharest is being considered as excellent in the all field of bilateral relations.
European Times: What are your priorities for the future?
H.E. Iurie Reniţă: Our main priority is to achieve Moldova’s EU integration with Romania’s assistance and we have received full support from all Romania’s institutions dealing with foreign affairs, in all political parties. We are also working with Romania to diversify our energy supplies. Republic of Moldova depends 100% on Russia for gas and 75% to 80% for electricity. A key energy-diversification project for Moldova is the Iaşi-Ungheni pipeline project with Romania, which we launched on August 27 2013, exactly on our Independence Day. Thanks to this pipeline, we will be able to buy gas from Romania at much cheaper price than the current Russian, or the price from any other EU countries. When we talk about getting closer to Romania, we are also talking about connecting to the EU since Romania is an EU member.
European Times: In what other ways are Moldova and Romania cooperating?
H.E. Iurie Reniţă: Romania is Moldova’s top export market in the EU; we export more than €1 billion in goods to Romania per year, which is substantial for a small country like Moldova. Today, around 60% of Moldova’s exports are to the EU and this percentage should increase considerably thanks to our new free-trade agreement with EU.
European Times: What can Moldova offer to Romanian and EU investors?
H.E. Iurie Reniţă: Moldova has many high-potential sectors in industry and agriculture, including famous Moldovan wines. My country also proved to be a dedicated, credible, responsible international partner. Undoubtedly, Moldova is a European country, which shares European values of democracy, freedom, free market and much more. The strong majority of Moldovans supports EU integration.
