OREANDA-NEWS. June 17, 2011. Prime Minister Vlad Filat today held a news briefing focused on the outcomes of his visit to Bratislava, Slovakia, the government's communications and press relations department has said.

Opening the briefing, Filat said that a mandate for negotiations with Moldova on an agreement on the development of the Common Airspace was adopted at the European Union's Transport Council on 16 June.

"This decision is the result of the efforts that we have constantly undertaken lately. I want to thank all those who were engaged in this important process. The Moldovan citizens will benefit from this achievement in the long run. In the days to come, we will set up a national team of negotiators that will deal with this important field, after which we will start the talks," Filat said.

Referring to his visit to Bratislava, the prime minister noted that it was occasioned by the summit of the heads of government of the Visegrad Group (V4) member states (Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary), Moldova being invited as a guest. "I accepted the invitation to take part in the summit, given the regional importance of the Visegrad Group, as well as the important role of the V4 member states in the European Union," the prime minister noted.

Filat said that the participation in the summit, as well as the bilateral meetings he had held, were a good opportunity to step up bilateral and multilateral ties.

"The agenda of the discussions covered a wide range of subjects, among which: the pace of economic and institutional reforms, the implementation of assistance projects offered by Slovakia, as well as the implementation of the agreements reached during the 2010 bilateral visits. We have also touched upon issues regarding the training of our local experts in the EU-integration field, the implementation of sector projects, the cooperation in the humanitarian and regional security field," he said.

The prime minister mentioned, in particular, the fruitful discussion with his Slovakian counterpart, given the fact that Slovakia is providing a significant support to Moldova's EU-integration path and that its experience of an EU member state, with a high level of economic development and a very attractive environment for foreign investments, is very useful for Moldova.

"Talking to Prime Minister Iveta Radicova, we agreed to further take steps to consolidate the Moldovan-Slovak ties. We will lay the emphasis on the EU integration aspect, as well as on taking over the Slovak experience in terms of economic development, investment attraction and ways to boost the economic relations," the premier said.

Filat added that he had invited his Slovak counterpart to visit Moldova, noting that Iveta Radicova is expected to pay an official visit to Chisinau in the nearest future.

Filat said that at the meeting with his Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orban, the officials broached bilateral cooperation, ways to further develop it, Moldova's EU integration path, as well as the Eastern Partnership summit due in Warsaw in September.

"I thanked Hungary for its constant support provided to Moldova, in particular, as concerns the talks on the liberalization of the visa regime, on the signing of an agreement on deep and comprehensive free trade between Moldova and the EU, as well as for Moldova's accession to the Strategy for the Danube Region. Moldova's accession to this strategy had consolidated the country's status of a trustworthy partner, which will allow attracting additional funds from the European Union," Filat said.

The prime minister said that given the good relations with Hungary, and its openness for Moldova, he had asked for the Hungary's support within the framework of the Eastern Partnership summit, stressing that Moldova aims at obtaining a clear prospect as concerns its European integration. In the context, Filat said that Moldova sticks to the meritocracy principle called "more for more".

"Prime Minister Viktor Orban has given assurances that Hungary is willing to further support Moldova in meeting the set goals, in particular the one of European integration. Hungary will further back Moldova and will support its EU-integration prospects," Filat said.

Filat also spoke about the useful exchange of opinions he had with the heads of government of the Visegrad Group, on the sidelines of a plenary meeting.

"It was a good opportunity to set forth our stance and top objectives for the nearest future, in terms of EU integration. I was pleased to ascertain that the V4 member states are friendly and supportive of Moldova, which allows us being upbeat. In the context, I would like to recall the statement made by our good friend, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who said that Moldova is the most resolute country among the Eastern Partnership member states, as it is significantly advancing on the EU integration path, making great headway in this respect. Thus, it deserves to further be backed in order to accomplish its goals," he said.

Filat said that his Polish counterpart highlighted the importance of showing solidarity with Moldova at the current stage of its EU integration process, noting that the V4 member states have always displayed sympathy towards the countries fighting for freedom and democracy.

"Donald Tusk has also outlined the priorities of the Polish chairmanship of the Council of the European Union in late 2011, laying the emphasis on the development of the relations with the EU and the Eastern Partnership member states, as well as the re-assessment of the partnership at the summit due in Warsaw. A joint effort to emphasize Moldova s achievements in the implementation of reforms and in the promotion of democracy will be made. I would like to mention that I was given assurances that backing Moldova's EU integration aspirations is a joint objective of the Visegard Group member states," the prime minister said.

Filat said that his visit to Bratislava was important and fruitful, stressing that the outcome of this visit will be seen in the subsequent development of the bilateral and multilateral relations, as well as in the support given to Moldova's EU integration path by the V4 member states.