Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova Nicu Popescu and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met in Moscow on November 17. Both noted that the talks were "constructive and in a friendly manner," and the sides intend to deepen cooperation. At the same time, Popescu stressed that the withdrawal of Russian troops remains a priority of Moldovan foreign policy.
After the meeting, the foreign ministers of Moldova and Russia signed a joint statement on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Russia and Moldova. Popescu and Lavrov also approved a plan for consultations between the ministries for 2022-2023.
Both said afterward that the talks had been "constructive."
"The talks were constructive, in a friendly way. We emphasized an interest in moving the partnership forward in different areas. In what Mrs. Sandu has stated repeatedly. The interest was fully confirmed today - keeping the balance line," Lavrov said at the press conference.
Popescu added in his speech that this applies even to issues on which they have not yet reached full agreement.
"We confirmed the mutual attitude in all directions of Moldovan-Russian relations, including issues on which solutions are yet to be found," Nicu Popescu said at the press conference.
One of the topics of the talks was the Transnistrian settlement.
"The withdrawal of Russian troops remains a priority of Moldovan foreign policy," Popescu said.
My talks with FM #Lavrov reaffirmed Moldova’s and Russian Federation’s commitment to #constructive political and economic cooperation, but also the need to continue negotiations on settlement of the Transnistrian conflict in the 5+2 format. @MID_RF @MoldovaMFA pic.twitter.com/Z3A7D6ioD7
— Nicu Popescu (@nicupopescu) November 17, 2021
