The Minister of National Defence Gabriel Oprea met with his Moldovan counterpart, Vitalie Marinuta, in Chisinau, on Friday, 20 April, during the official visit he makes in the Republic of Moldova.

Bilateral military cooperation and the regional situation were high on the agenda. The two ministers identified ways of strengthening cooperation of the armed forces of the two countries, including training of troops and the political and military dialogue meant to promote internal reforms and modernization of armed forces.

Minister Gabriel Oprea said he considered that our military relations are on an ascending course, that the Moldovan Government made notable progress, that Romania endorses the European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the republic of Moldova.

'I want to reassure you that the Romanian Ministry of National Defence is willing to continue providing expertise according to the needs of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Moldova. We wish to further our bilateral military relations, by developing them at all levels, from tactical to strategic', minister Gabriel Oprea declared.

The Romanian defence minister emphasized that, at bilateral level, the Romanian side will go on offering assistance and act as a consultant on aspects concerning the military reform, with emphasis on training personnel through joint exercises and military education, namely continuing the training of Moldovan officers in Romanian military education institutions.

Minister Vitalie Marinuta, in his turn, said he was content with the evolution of the political and military relations of Romania and the Republic of Moldova, based, as always, on mutual trust.

The Moldovan minister of defence was interested in the Euro-Atlantic experience of the Romanian military and said he appreciated the willingness of the Romanian side to provide expertise for the implementation of the Individual Action Plan goals in Moldova-NATO Partnership.

'I am grateful to the Romanian Government and you personally, Minister Oprea, for the support offered to the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Moldova in educating military personnel in military institutions of higher education from Romania. The high, international standard knowledge our military personnel acquires there, allow us to implement military reforms and modernization programs more effectively, to create a modern defence and security system, that will finally ensure a peaceful life for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova', Minister Vitalie Marinuta declared.

The two ministers signed the Agreement between the Government of Romania and the Government of the Republic of Moldova on military cooperation. The Agreement sets the legal frame of the military cooperation of the two countries, the establishment of a Mixed Military Committee, the organization and carrying out of mixed exercises and training, protection of information, financial aspects and personnel`s judicial status.

The fields of cooperation covered by the Agreement include: defence policy, arms control, defence planning, education and training, national defence legislation, the management of human and financial resources, scientific research, control and management of air space, military intelligence, medicine, social aspects, military history and science, cultural and sports activities. The Agreement signed today will be submitted to the Romanian Parliament for ratification.

The program of the official visit of Minister Gabriel Oprea to the Republic of Moldova included a meeting with the President of the Republic of Moldova, Nicolae Timofti and Prime Minister Vlad Filat.

During the talks with the two officials, Minister Gabriel Oprea said he was pleased by dynamic of the cooperation relations between the two countriesand emphasized once more that Romania endorses the Republic of Moldova in its European aspirations.

President Timofti thanked Romania for the constant support offered to the Republic of Moldova in all fields of cooperation, especially the military one.

Prime Minister Filat in his turn, spoke of the important part played by the decisions adopted during the recent common meeting between the Romanian and Moldovan Governments, that took place in Iasi, in stimulating bilateral relations and he appreciated the constant availability the Romanian military showed in their relation with the National Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova.

At the end of his visit in the Republic of Moldova, Minister Gabriel Oprea laid a wreath at the Monument of Stefan cel Mare in Chisinau, visiting also the Cemetery of Romanian Soldiers in Calarasi, where a wreath-laying ceremony was organized in memory of Romanian heroes, who died during World War 2. The Romanian official thanked the Moldovan authorities for their prompt response in solving the unfortunate event, when unidentified persons violated the cemetery at the beginning of April, this year, and for bringing things under control in what is a sanctuary of the Romanian heroes.

MoND Press Office