Moldovan PM says may visit Russia, but no dates set yet
CHISINAU. July 16 (Interfax) - Moldovan Prime Minister Maia Sandu said in an interview with the radio station Europa Libera that she has accepted an invitation to visit Russia, but no dates have been discussed so far.
"We received an invitation and accepted it. But we haven't considered any specific dates yet. We will inform you when such a decision is made. The program is very busy here, at home now," Sandu said in the interview broadcast on Tuesday.
"Relations with Russia are no less important and no less difficult," she said.
"There are high expectations in this regard, and I think that I will be working here in Moldova over the next two months. I ask my minister colleagues to go on visits when necessary," she said.
Sandu set off to Berlin on an official visit at the invitation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday. Sandu has already visited Bucharest, Brussels, and Kyiv since she became Moldova's prime minister a month ago.
Former Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip issued a decree in March 2017 banning Moldovan officials from visiting Russia. This move caused a two-year absence of contacts between the governments of Russia and Moldova. Only Moldovan President Igor Dodon maintained relations with Moscow.
Relations have begun to be restored following the change of power in Moldova. Russian Deputy Prime Minister and the president's envoy for trade and economic relations with Moldova Dmitry Kozak has visited Chisinau. Russian Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev and Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Vasilii Sova, who co-chair the two countries' intergovernmental commission for trade and economic cooperation, have met as well. They agreed to hold the commission's meeting soon. President Dodon, in turn, expressed hope that Sandu would soon meet with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.