Mikhail Saakashvili says his visit to Moldova does not have electoral subtext

Georgia’s President Mikhail Saakashvili said that his visit to Moldova is not electoral and had been planned before the parliamentary elections were called, Info-Prim Neo reports. In a press briefing held jointly with Acting President Mihai Ghimpu, Mikhail Saakashvili said the Republic of Moldova has now the greatest chances of become part of the EU. “I’m sure that the procedures for signing the free trade agreement and liberalizing the visa regime will be completed quickly. No other countries have such chances as Moldova,” said the Georgian President, voicing hope that Moldova’s integration into the EU will bring advantages to the neighboring counties – Ukraine, Belarus and Georgia. Mikhail Saakashvili was awarded the Order of the Republic in gratitude for his special contribution to developing and strengthening the friendship and cooperation relations and for the assistance provided to Moldova. Commenting on the Communist leader Vladimir Voronin’s refusal to meet with him, Mikhail Saakashvili said it was a personal problem of the political leaders who refuse to meet with persons who had meetings with personalities, including U.S. President Barack Obama. The President of Georgia also said that in 2005, when he paid his first visit to Moldova and met the then president Vladimir Voronin, he was advised by the Russian authorities not to make that visit. After making statements for the press, the Georgian delegation went to Obileni, where there will be inaugurated a street with 30 houses built with money provided by the Government of Georgia. Mikhail Saakashvili came to Moldova at the invitation of Mihai Ghimpu.