Prime Minister Gaburici: Thank you very much for the interest you’ve expressed in this very important event on the development of the Moldovan-American relationship. I have the great pleasure to welcome here our high-level visitor and guest, Mr. Blinken, who is the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State visiting the Republic of Moldova for the second time. He is now on a visit in Europe, which has already included France, and he will follow this with a visit to Great Britain and Germany. I would like to express my belief that some of the items raised by us today with regard to the European path of the Republic of Moldova and the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga in May 2015 are going to be further discussed by him with the high-level officials in the European capitals. In fact, Brussels was the destination that I have chosen very naturally as my first visit abroad as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova. In the dialogue that we have had there with the President of the European Council, Mr. Tusk, the Chairman of the European Parliament, Mr. Shultz, and Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, I have stressed the alignment of our vision regarding the European future of the Republic of Moldova and the reforms that must continue, including with the support of the European Union.

So that the European integration of the Republic of Moldova is accomplished, we will continue this discussion with the Association Council that is going to take place on March 16, 2015 in Brussels in order to review the pace of implementing the Association Agreement and in order to identify the most optimal interaction with the European Union. The goal is to capitalize fully on the opportunity that we are offered and in this case, all the benefits for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova. Today’s visit of Mr. Blinken to the Republic of Moldova, just two weeks after the new government took over, is an expression of the constant political support provided to the Republic of Moldova by the U.S. for the democratic development, reform and modernization of the country, in the context of this irreversible European integration process taken on by the new government of the Republic of Moldova.

During the meeting that took place today, we had a very good discussion and we had a very useful discussion on priority issues of our bilateral relationship agenda between the Republic of Moldova and the United States of America, in particular in deepening the strategic dialogue between both countries. Equally, we have raised the issue with regard to the regional security. We’ve expressed gratitude to Mr. Blinken for the solidarity shown for Moldova’s efforts in the process of strengthening its statehood and territorial integrity.

In this sense, it is worth mentioning the resolutions of the U.S. Congress, with regard to the support for the European integration of the Republic of Moldova as well as the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country, that were unequivocally approved in 2014.

In addition to the multiple visits of the members of the U.S. Congress and high-level officials, all of this in fact represents strong support from the American political elite for our country. We also very much count on the continuous support of our American partners in the format of the 5+2 negotiations for the Transnistrian conflict settlement, respecting the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

At the same time, we have reiterated the fact that for the future, we really count on the support of the U.S. in the country’s modernization. I thank the Deputy Secretary of State for the significant support provided by the U.S. in the amount of $1.2 billion during the past 23 years that gave us the possibility to initiate and launch all of the reforms related to building strong institutions and promoting democracy and fundamental freedom. In this context, I would like to underline the concrete results and impact of the technical and financial support in the amount of $262 million offered by the government of the U.S. under the Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact, which was used to modernize the infrastructure of the country as well as the roads, transportation structure, and irrigation systems. During the meeting, I also expressed Moldova’s strong interest in signing a new agreement, a new Compact agreement for cooperation with the Millennium Challenge Cooperation.

Another component, equally important, of the relations between our countries is commercial and economic cooperation, as well as investment cooperation. During the discussion, we noted our appreciation of the 2014 re-launch of Moldovan-American cooperation in the field of trade and economy, after a break of about nine years.

Dear Mr. Deputy Secretary of State,

Your presence in Chisinau in a very important period of time, during the Moldova’s European democratic path, represents a benchmark for the development, for the strategic dialogue between our countries. But at the same time it mobilizes us to continue further to advance the implementation of reforms in the justice sector, fight against corruption and country’s modernization.

Thank you very much for your attention and I would like to give the floor now to Mr. Deputy Secretary of State of the U.S., Mr. Anthony Blinken.

Deputy Secretary Blinken: Thank you. It’s very, very good to be back in Moldova today. As the Prime Minister noted, this is my second trip. I was here with Vice President Biden just a few years ago and we’ve had a very very good conversation today with the Prime Minister, with the Foreign Minister before that, with the President. And I have to tell you, I am incredibly impressed with the vision that the Prime Minister has for Moldova, the progress he is determined to make for the Moldovan people, and those efforts he will have, the people of Moldova will have the very strong support of the United States. The relationship between our countries has never been stronger and I came today with a simple message which is to express our continued support and our continued commitment to Moldova and also to reiterate our support for quick and concrete actions on necessary reforms as Moldova continues on the path of European integration.

Already, extraordinary progress has been made in that direction with the signing of the Association Agreement, with the Free Trade Agreement, with the Visa Free Travel, but I think what’s challenging is that many of the benefits of this progress sometimes take time to become concrete and real for people. But the potential, as a result of the reforms and initiatives that the government is working on, is extraordinary.

Moldovans, as they integrate with Europe, will have access to the largest single market in the world, and as your own industry develops as your own products develop, that will create opportunities for trade, bringing wealth back home and creating jobs. And as you move forward on that path, a farmer in Orhei will no longer have to worry that his grapes will ruin on the vine because of someone else’s embargo. A family in Balti will not have to worry if there’s no heat because you’ll be pursuing energy diversification to make sure that all of your citizens are cared for. And as the investment climate improves, as you combat corruption, as you strengthen the rule of law, as you strengthen the independent judiciary, businesses will come and invest in Moldova and help you strengthen your own capacity and your own ability to export and to bring greater wealth to the country and more jobs. So there’s a very clear path forward that the Prime Minister is on, that the government is on, and that we strongly support.

As the Prime Minister noted, in Washington, a year ago today in fact, the United States and the government of Moldova launched a strategic dialogue. And that was designed to strengthen and deepen our collaboration together on very important issues including energy, including security, and including the consolidation of your democracy.

Today in the meetings, as the Prime Minister said, we discussed all of these very important issues and I reiterated on behalf of my government our commitment to the bilateral relationship. As well as continued cooperation toward the full resolution to the Transnistria conflict through the 5+2 process and for Moldova’s European path.

These are challenging times and Moldova lives in a challenging environment. It will need to act quickly and decisively on the reform agenda, the promise to its citizens. But I heard a very strong commitment today from the Prime Minister and the government to do just that. And quite simply, as Moldova moves forward the United States will be there with you, moving forward, moving forward hand in hand, supporting the government, supporting the people, supporting your progress. Thank you very much.

Moderator: Journalists, you can ask questions please to the two officials.

Jurnal TV: I have a question to the Deputy Secretary of State. I would like to hear your opinion with regard to the chances of a government for Chisinau that is a minority government which depends in fact on the votes of the Communists, who you know that until now haven’t shown themselves as particularly pro-European. How high are the chances to make the Republic of Moldova fight corruption and offer this day of justice to the citizens of the Republic of Moldova?

Deputy Secretary Blinken: Thank you very much. It’s obviously not my place to comment on the internal politics of Moldova. What I can tell you is this. The vision that I heard today from the Prime Minister, as it’s realized in a practical way, will clearly be to the benefit of every Moldovan. And if that happens, I would imagine that it will be in the interest of all the different parties to support these efforts because it goes to the progress of the country and of all Moldova citizens. But we all know reform is hard. It’s difficult. You have to take on entrenched interests and that’s never easy in any country.

I think one of the biggest challenges is dealing with corruption. This is something that virtually every country at one point or another in its history has had to combat and tackle, including the United States. We have some experience in this area. But what we do know is that corruption is a cancer that eats away at the political and economic strength of the country.

It alienates citizens. It wastes public resources. It says to investors “stay out.” It is the single biggest obstacle to progress in many countries and it’s a challenge for Moldova.

I think some important steps have begun to be taken. I heard the commitment of the Prime Minister to tackle this problem. But that will require the support of all political parties as well going forward.

As that happens, and as other reforms are made strengthening the rule of law, having predictable and transparent regulations that allow businesses to come here with confidence, I think you’ll see and I heard the Prime Minister talk very eloquently about many of the advantages that Moldova offers in terms of attracting investment from around the world. Including the relatively low cost of its labor force, its geographic position, and the talent of its people to produce products that can be very competitive. We want to help do that. We want to help advance the agenda. And the bottom line is this. As any government begins to produce results and helps its people understand that even if the results are not immediate, they are coming because there’s a logical path forward. There’s a plan, and that sometimes you have to take a little bit of short term pain to get longer term gain. The more that happens, I think the more people buy in and support the efforts and support the program. That’s the challenge. It’s a challenge for every government including our own. Thank you.

Pro TV: Since you have mentioned that you discussed the energy security of our country, I would like, Mr. Prime Minister, to ask you when the gas pipeline from Iasi-Ungheni will start.

Prime Minister Gaburici: Thank you very much for your question. Today during the meeting and the discussion that we had with Mr. Blinken, we discussed energy security. We discussed the possible alternatives for energy that the Republic of Moldova can have and we discussed also the investment that must come from the U.S. in this sector, in the energy sector in the country. I will answer the question with regards to the gas pipes from Iasi-Ungheni, which probably, I guess you’ll get official information from us today together with the Ministry of Economy, but this pipeline’s activity will start tomorrow, which is a very good piece of news for us. We are discussing this issue already, about the pipeline from Ungheni to Chisinau which will give us the possibility to cover the whole country with the gas coming from Romania and create clear competition in the energy market in the country.

Thank you very much. We wish you a nice day.