Moldova, United Kingdom sign Defence and Security Partnership

Chisinau, 20 November /MOLDPRES/ - Moldova and the United Kingdom today signed a Defence and Security Partnership, as well as the Agreement on readmission of people who are in illegal stay. The document was signed in Chisinau by Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs Minister Mihai Popsoi and Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom David Lammy.   

Also today, Foreign Affairs Minister of Romania Luminita Odobescu is on a visit to Chisinau. The officials had discussions in trilateral format.  

Deputy PM Mihai Popsoi said that this format of discussions was quite welcome, as Romania and the United Kingdom are firm supporters of Moldova’s democracy and development.    

„I thanked the partners for support, including in the signing of the two important documents. The bilateral partnership in the security sector will allow us boosting the dialogue and more efficiently cooperating on subjects concerning the regional security, consolidation of resilience to hybrid threats and strengthening of the cooperation at the operational level. Also, the Agreement on the readmission of people who are in illegal stay contributes to the aligning with the international standards in the fight against the illegal migration, with the full observance of the human rights. The document allows the return in safety of our citizens who illegally stay on the territory of the United Kingdom. The Agreement is applied exclusively to the people who do not observe the legislation on migration in the United Kingdom. The citizens will be able to return to Moldova with the authorities’ support. At the same time, the document does not affect the citizens who legally live or work in the United Kingdom,’’ Mihai Popsoi said.        

„Also, in the contest of the holding of the presidential elections and of the referendum, I highlighted the determination of Moldova’s authorities in combating the interferences from abroad, meant to destabilize, to create division in the society and to undermine the democracy through schemes of illicit financings, misinformation campaigns and cyber attacks. We are not alone in this fight; we will cope with the support of the partners. I also reaffirmed the government’s firm commitment for the consolidation of the democracy, economic resilience, ensuring the stability and advancement of the reforms for the country’s European integration,’’ the deputy prime minister said.  

For his part, the British official stressed that Russia’s malignant involvement continued. ‘’We support the strong and sovereign Moldova, able to oppose Russia’s threats. I signed this bilateral partnership in the defence and security sector, consolidating our cooperation in the field of combating the misinformation and the organized crime. We also welcome the signing of the new Agreement on readmission. Thus, those who infringe the law will be expelled from the United Kingdom,’’ David Lammy said.     

Also, the United Kingdom will provide Moldova with assistance worth five million pounds for the health sector. David Lammy made statements to this effect today.

„We will provide Moldova with five million pounds as financing in the health sector; we will back the Ukrainian refugees and will give more money for combating the illicit financing and the problems in the cyber security field. I am happy that we can support these important actions,’’ David Lammy noted.  

Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom David Lammy and Foreign Affairs Minister of Romania Luminita Odobescu today pay a visit to Moldova. The visits were hosted by Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs Minister Mihai Popsoi. The officials had meetings in trilateral format during the visits.