Filat, Putin hold phone conversation concerning gas supply

The issue of gas imports from Russia formed the key part of a telephone conversation between Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. According to the Moldovan governmental press service, both prime ministers stressed the need for further negotiations on the agreement and expressed their confidence that it would be mutually beneficial. Vlad Filat and Vladimir Putin briefly reviewed the bilateral relations, noting their progressive nature in the last few years. The officials agreed to further advance the bilateral dialogue and relationship to the mutual benefit of both countries. The two prime ministers also congratulated each other on the winter holidays, wishing to the peoples of both countries prosperity and new achievements in the next year. Moldova's agreement for Russian gas supply expires on 31 December 2011. The talks on a new one came to a standstill after Chisinau decided to sign EU's Third Energy Package.