The President of Romania Traian Basescu is paying his second official visit to Moldova after the coming to power of the democratic parties in 2009. The first state visit was made in 2010, at the invitation of Moldova’s acting President Mihai Ghimpu. This time Traian Basescu pays the visit at the invitation of President Nicolae Timofti, IPN reports.
In 2010, Traian Basescu came to Chisinau on January 27. He said then that Romania will never sign a treaty that will redefine the border between Romania and Moldova, but specified that they are ready to sign a treaty on the regime of the existing border. Then, Mihai Ghimpu and Traian Basescu agreed that Moldova and Romania will establish a partnership for Moldova’s integration into the EU as soon as possible.
During that visit, Traian Basescu announced that Romania decided to provide €100 million in non-reimbursable financial assistance to Moldova. The money was to be allocated in four annual tranches of €25 million each. The financing agreement was ratified by the Senate of Romania on February 11, 2011, but only a small part of the promised money reached Chisinau.
During the visit of January 2010, Mihai Ghimpu presented Traian Basescu with the Order of the Republic, which is the highest state award of Moldova.
Initially, Traian Basescu was to come to Moldova on February 1, but the visit was postponed as Nicolae Timofti underwent surgery.
On July 17, Traian Basescu will be met by President Nicolae Timofti at the State Residence. Afterward, the two officials will hold consultations in private and then in the presence of the delegations of Romania and Moldova. The two heads of state will hold a join news conference.
The Romanian President will have meetings with Speaker Igor Corman, Prime Minister Iurie Leanca, and Mayor General of Chisinau Dorin Chirtoaca. He will also have discussions with the chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party Vlad Filat, the head of the Democratic Party Marian Lupu and the Liberal Party chairman Mihai Ghimpu. Later, Traian Basescu will lay flowers at the monument to ruler Stephan the Great and Holy, while in the evening will have a meeting with representatives of Moldova’s civil society and the clergy.
