Moldova, France sign agreements on economic, defense cooperation
CHISINAU. March 7 (Interfax) - Moldova and France signed agreements on economic and defense cooperation on Thursday, Moldovan President Maia Sandu said.
"Moldovans have the right to decide their own future, and this future lies in the European Union. With the support of France, and that of others who stand by us, we know that we are not alone. Together we will make sure that Moldova will be free, will be peaceful and will be in the European Union," Sandu said at a joint press conference in Paris, an excerpt of which is available on the presidential website.
Sandu is leading a government delegation visiting Paris, during which she met with French President Emmanuel Macron. She said the meeting was taking place "amidst a renewed attempt by Russia and its proxies to put extra pressure on our country [Moldova]."
She thanked France in particular for the Moldova Support Platform set up at the initiative of France, Germany, and Romania. "I am grateful for President Macron's consistent, unwavering support during France's presidency of the European Council in the first half of 2022, and at last December's summit in Brussels," Sandu said.
The Moldovan Defense Ministry said earlier that Defense Minister Anatolie Nosatii and French Foreign Minister Sebastien Lecornu signed a cooperation agreement intended to "renew the agreement between the two countries' defense agencies signed in 1998 and provide a framework for a more profound partnership."
"The agreement will embrace the following important areas for developing and enhancing the Moldovan Army: defense policy, involvement in international missions and operations, airspace control and management, information technology and military communications, topography, personnel policy and language training, logistics, military medicine, [and] financial and budget management," the ministry said.
"Taking into account the development of the situation in the region and related challenges, the document had to be updated to bolster joint efforts against threats to national security on the path of Moldova's accession to the European Union," it said.
The document envisions the establishment of a Moldovan-French commission, which should assess joint activities and endorse a multiyear defense cooperation plan. The commission will gather annually in France or Moldova.
Chisinau submitted a bid to join the European Union on March 3, 2022, following Ukraine and Georgia. Moldova was granted EU candidate status on June 23, 2022, and the European Commission recommended on November 8, 2023 that the European Council start negotiations on Moldova and Ukraine's EU membership.