The opening of a third Romanian consulate in the Republic of Moldova, the interconnection of electricity and gas networks between the two countries, non-refundable funds to develop the Moldavian educational infrastructure, the opening of a citizen-awarding agency to speed up this process and recognising diplomas - these are all measures that Romania will take or is willing to take, according to the statements made by Romanian president Traian Basescu in Chisinau today, January 27, 2010.

The two presidents held a joint press conference, followed by a ceremony where the two decorated each other. Basescu received the Order of the Moldovan Republic for supporting its neighbouring country European aspirations and for contributing to the development of the Moldavian state.

In his turn, the Romanian president decorated his Moldavian homologue the highest distinction of the Romanian state, the Romanian Star in the grade of necklace. "It can only be granted to a chief of state and in Romania the only man to hold it is the National Bank governor", Basescu detailed. It was also granted twice post-mortem. "It is a sign of respect for the democracy that is establishing in the Republic of Moldova and for you as the chief of state who chose an irreversible democratic path", the Romanian president said.

Here are the main statements of the two presidents:

Mihai Ghimpu

• We had problems in the relationship with Romania until the formation of the Alliance. You have been convinced that once the state formations were formed after the Alliance for European Integration (AIE) creation, these problems started to be solved. The first aspect was to cancel the visas imposed on Romanians when travelling to the Republic of Moldova. The small traffic at the border agreement has been signed. It is a very good thing, made for the citizens on both banks of the river Prut.

• Today I believe there are no problems that the powers in Bucharest and Chisinau cannot be solved. We are two states, but at the basis of these to states is lays the same blood, the same culture, the same identity, the same language. Despite of what is happening, nobody can tell us how we should live, it's a way of life inherited from our ancestors.

On infrastructure:

• We have political, economical and social issues and I believe we have all chances to solve them. The infrastructure in the Republic of Moldova is extremely bad, but there are European funds that can help us fix it. Before the war, there were 25-45 bridges, a great deal in fact. Today, not even this small border traffic can function properly because citizens need to go 70-100 km. We need to build back those bridges.

On investments:

• We've got problems with investments. I hope that once in power the parties that create favourable conditions for all economic agents, Romanian business people will invest in Moldova and we invite them to do so.

On citizenship:

• This process took place slowly, but now it will be made easier. It is the right of the successors that nobody can contest and the issue has found support during discussions.

On Moldavians working in Romania:

• Discussion address a social protection agreement regarding Moldavian citizens working in Romania.

On the small traffik at the border:

• Mr. Basescu confirmed that if the consulates in Balti and Cahul are not going to solve the problem of the small traffic at the border, Romania is ready to open another consulate.

Traian Basescu thanked Romanians in Moldova for voting him in the last presidential elections.

• We've agreed to sign a partnership for the Republic of Moldova's integration in the EU, in order to speed up this process that needs to be quick enough for the Republic of Moldova to be included in the West Balkan states' group fro the EU accession and EU resources perspective.

• We discussed the famous border treaty, as it was previously named, and I want to be frank about it: Romania will never sign a treaty that redefines the border between Romania and the Republic of Moldova. Romania recognised the state borders of R. of Moldova the way they were inherited from the ex-Soviet Union. Romania agrees to sign an agreement in regards to the existent border regime, the way it was inherited from the USSR and such an agreement is necessary to bring the border pass of the Moldavian citizens towards Romania and the EU to more advantageous standards for the people.

• The technical preparations still need time. (...) Our estimate is that on March 30 at the latest, the law will be enforceable and ready to function. She's currently valid, but the technical conditions need to be met and we engaged to solve them by March 30.

On the Romanian citizenship granted to Moldavian citizens

• I need to give explanations to the Moldavian citizens, part of them Romanian citizens as well. Te problem of the delay in granting the Romanian citizenship has been raised.

• The legislation that we have modified last year compels the authorities to grant the citizenship within 5 months since after the dossier was completed correctly and submitted. The biggest problem represent those who have submitted their file before the law started to be enforced and there are hundreds of files that need to be recovered.

• The dossiers submitted before the change in law will be processed in the next six months. Until June 30, the dossiers remaining from the end of the 90s, beginning of the 200s will be processed and citizenship will be grated to those that meet the criteria.

• In the Friday's governmental session a normative act will be adopted to facilitate the set-up of a special agency for granting citizenship, with its headquarters in Bucharest. It will have five territorial units: in Iasi [N-E}, Galati [E], Suceava [N-E], Cluj [Central] and Timisoara [West].

• I would make an absolutely friendly warning: delays often intervene because the documentation submitted does not respect completely the documents that need to be included in the file.

• If until the new legislation, including in 2008, Romania granted 2,400 citizenships to Moldavian citizens, there have been 20,000 files processed in 2009, 14,000 Moldavian citizens have already received citizenship and the rest are scheduled to swear in. I hope that once the new agency is set-up, the speed of file processing will increase, so that no citizen would be subjected to the bureaucratic humiliation of waiting for too long.

On the economic cooperation

• Romania decided to grant a non-refundable financial support over a period of four years, namely 2010 - 2013, worth of 100 million euros, in four annual instalments, 25 million every year, for educational infrastructure projects, school modernisations and local significant infrastructure.

• The energetic, gas transport or rail network infrastructure might be connected between Romania and the Republic of Moldova.

• There are several chief projects: the first, which we hope it will become functional by the end of 2010, is the electrified railway Falciu-Godesti. In Romania, it is stretching over 28,3 km and is finished and during this year it will be completed in the Republic of Moldova as well. The costs of connection will be supported by us, Basescu said so that the Moldovan energetic system is connected with the Romanian side.

• There's also the Dochia-Ungheni-Iasi project. Thus, the gas pipe transportation will be connected.

On the situation in Tranistria

Mihai Ghimpu underlined that he sees no other solution than the 5+2 format.

• This issue needs to be solved peacefully and through dialogue. 
  

• It will have no success as long as the Russian army, arms and ammunition are on Moldovan territory.

• The Russian army needs to redraw, we need to start the democracy of the society at the left bank of river Nistru, to take out the soldiers from the region (...).

• The Russian Foreign minister said that the army will redraw when the status issue will be solved. The status is an internal issue, the army is a foreign problem. The Russian federation needs to comply with the Istanbul decision.

• Anyway, I hope we'll find solutions to this problem, and an important role is also played by Ukraine and the EU.

Traian Basescu

• Romania has always claimed, is currently claiming and will do so in the future that the Republic of Moldova is a sovereign state and needs to have control over its entire territory. The Russian army's technical and human resources on Moldovan territory is not likely to support the end of the conflict.

• This is a conflict with a much delayed solution. I believe that the EU and the USA need to play a more important role in the 5+2 negotiation format.

Asked how he addresses those accusing him of involvement of last year's social unrest in Moldova, president Traian Basescu replied: "For me it is not of great interest those politicians that, for one reason or another, fail to see or accept the interests of the people they claim to represent. Romania has the natural duty to support the citizens of the republic of Moldova to a rapid EU accession (...)."

As for the coup d'etat accusation, Basescu declared that "Romania has no interest in getting involved in R. of Moldova's inner problems. Our aim is for Moldova to be an EU member, so that all Romanians can travel freely and preserve their cultural and historical values, language, a right that any nation has".