Prime Minister Pavel Filip and Deputy Secretary General of NATO Rose Gottemoeller today participated in the inauguration of the NATO Liaison Office in Moldova. The ceremony was preceded by a bilateral meeting between the two officials.   

At the meeting, the sides said that the opening of the Liaison Office represented an important stage in Moldova’s relations with the North Atlantic Alliance. The officials noted that this would contribute to the further strengthening of the political dialogue and practical cooperation with NATO, without yet affecting the principle of Moldova’s constitutional neutrality.   

Pavel Filip voiced confidence that the inauguration of the Office would ensure a resetting of the activities on the bilateral dimension, according to the goals established by common consent in the Action Plan of the Moldova-NATO Partnership for 2017-2019.

“Moldova is and wants to be in continuation a reliable partner in the relations with the international organizations. Therefore, the active cooperation, both with the European Union and the NATO, is on top of the list for creating conditions concerning the stability and safety of our citizens,” PM Pavel Filip said.   

At the same time, the prime minister thanked the Alliance for the assistance provided to the most diverse sectors, including for backing to train national experts. The work of the Office with civilian status will provide continuity to the present programmes with NATO’s support, as well as will boost the starting of other important projects, such as fighting cyber threats, enhancing the resilience and preparing for civilian emergency situations, counteracting terrorism, security and defence sector’s reform.  

“We are set to organize, with the help of the NATO Office, public diplomacy actions, in order to objectively inform the citizens about the dialogue we have with the Alliance and projects implemented with the latter’s assistance,” the prime minister said.

For her part, Deputy Secretary General of NATO Rose Gottemoeller stressed that the opening of the Office was the result of the interest showed by Moldova’s authorities and the bilateral cooperation, being also a proof of the commitment and value both sides attach to the partnership. The North Atlantic Alliance is willing to further back the reforms in Moldova, in order to strengthen the good governance and the state institutions, including efforts of fighting corruption nationally.     

„NATO fully observes the neutrality, independence and sovereignty of Moldova. The North Atlantic Bloc works with more neutral states, including Sweden, Finland and Switzerland, as well as with countries which have close relations with Russia, such as Armenia. Neutrality does not mean that we cannot be strong partners,” Rose Gottemoeller said.  

The deputy secretary general of the NATO appreciated Moldova’s contribution to keeping peace and security in the region, including by detaching National Army contingents to the KFOR operation in Kosovo.  

The NATO Liaison Office in Chisinau is a diplomatic mission with experts from states development partners of Moldova, has no military implications and is established in line with the provisions of the Agreement signed by Prime Minister Pavel Filip and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on 29 November 2016.