TABACARU CALLS MOLDOVA A "FAITHFUL ALLY AND SUPPORTER" OF DEMOCRACY
USIA
21 August 1998
TABACARU CALLS MOLDOVA A "FAITHFUL ALLY AND SUPPORTER" OF DEMOCRACY
(Foreign minister completes official visit to Washington) (700)
By Lydia Voronina
USIA Staff Writer
Washington -- "This visit was tremendously important for us since we
consider the Moldova-U.S. relations as the highest priority, and it
out turned to be a success," said Moldovan Foreign Minister Nickolae
Tabacaru, assessing the results of his week-long official visit to
Washington at the National Press Club on August 20.
Tabacaru listed a number of points he discussed with U.S. officials,
including the Moldovan economic and political developments, as well as
regional and international developments; taking the bilateral
political dialogue with United States to a higher level, and
establishing a "sustainable and consolidated partnership with the
United States."
The foreign minister emphasized that while "Moldova is a small state,
it has an important role in improvement of security and cooperation in
Southeastern Europe," adding that "the United States will find in
Moldova a faithful ally and supporter" in implementing plans for
strengthening democracy and security in this part of the world.
During the course of the visit, which he made at the invitation of
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Tabacaru said he had
"constructive meetings" with State Department officials, including
Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott who "demonstrated real
interest and deep understanding of our problems." He also had
discussions with Ambassador Stephen Sestanovich and other high
officials at the National Security Council, the Department of Defense
and the Department of Commerce.
Tabacaru characterized the Moldova-U.S. relationship as "optimistic
and future-oriented" and mentioned the special role the United States
is playing in promoting social and economic reforms and providing wide
assistance in many areas of "vital importance" to Moldova.
The Moldovan official noted that cooperation between Moldova and the
United States could be further developed through his country's more
extensive participation in international organizations, bilateral
political dialogue and increasing frequency of contacts. One of the
immediate results of his discussions with the U.S. officials was the
inclusion of Moldova in the "U.S. Action Plan for South Eastern
Europe," the initiative that he said will provide more concrete U.S.
help to his country.
On the subject of trade and economic relations between two nations,
Tabacaru reported that his delegation "presented to their American
counterparts complete proposals and investment projects in the key
sectors of the Moldovan economy." He said the IMF and the World Bank
consider Moldova "the country of the least risk and healthiest
investment opportunities among all newly independent states." Yet,
"more work should be done in attracting the foreign investors to our
country," Tabacaru said, adding that he "would like the United States
to assist Moldova more actively in this matter."
Asked about implementation of the 1994 Treaty on the withdrawal of the
Russian military personnel from Moldovan territory (ratified by the
Moldovan parliament, but not by the Russian Duma), Tabacaru said the
major problem now is not with the number of the Russian military
personnel in Moldova -- which has been reduced from 7,000 to 2,600 --
but with the ammunition, especially the old ammunition which is very
difficult to transport due to the simple fact that "it might explode
on the way." The foreign minister stated, "Time-table, monitoring
mechanisms, destruction measures and reporting procedures have been
negotiated with the Russian side and the treaty is in the process of
realization."
Answering a question about the separatist province of Transnistria,
Tabacaru pointed out that the quality of life is considerably lower in
that region due to the fact that economic and political reforms have
not been implemented; that the United States, Russia and the
international community officially recognize Moldova's territorial
integrity; and that Moldova is "ready to grant that region the highest
degree of autonomy," but not a-state-within-the-state status which
they are seeking."
Commenting on the ongoing financial crisis in Russia and its potential
impact on the Moldovan economy, Tabacaru said that since "we have our
own fully convertible currency, there is no immediate danger for us,
but in the long run it could affect our future commercial operations,
trade, and exchange rates."