PM believes tripartite meeting of PMs of Ukraine, Moldova and Romania to launch new format of regional cooperation

On Thursday, October 2, Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk met with Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova Iurie Leanca and Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta, who came to Kyiv with a joint visit.

"Our country has neighbors, but I can say that at this table are sitting our friends," stated Arseniy Yatsenyuk at a joint press conference following the talks. "Today we’ve met for the first time in this format at the level of Heads of Government," said the Prime Minister and expressed confidence that this visit launches a new model of partnership in the region.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Victor Ponta and Iurie Leanca have agreed on concrete ways to support each other in issues of the European integration of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.

The Prime Minister of Ukraine thanked the PM of Romania, which was the first in ratifying the Association Agreement, signed between Ukraine and the European Union. The Prime Ministers of three countries have discussed the prospects of joint projects in the field of fighting corruption and judicial reform, the development of transport, energy and border infrastructure, promotion of human contacts. "Our regional unity is very important for economic development, stability and security in the region," the Ukraine’s PM underlined.

An important factor in cooperation between Ukraine, Romania and Moldova is the presence of the respective national minorities. "The Ukrainian Government is fully maintaining the European approaches on how we should ensure the rights of national minorities in Ukraine. I mean the Romanian national minority and the Moldovan national minority. I am convinced that the Romanian and Moldovan governments as well take a similar stance on the protection and assistance of the Ukrainian minority in Romania and Moldova,” Arseniy Yatsenyuk stressed.