OREANDA-NEWS. October 20, 2014. Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and European Integration Minister Natalia Gherman paid a working visit to Greece, following an invitation by Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos.

Also, the Moldovan official had a meeting with Greek Speaker Evangelos Meimarakis, the Foreign and European Integration Ministry’s communication and media relations service has reported.

The visit had a symbolic connotation for Moldova in terms of European integration, taking into account that the two great achievements of the first half of year, liberalisation of visa regime for Moldovans within European area and signing of Association Agreement with the EU, took place during the Greek presidency of the EU Council.

In the context, the sides exchanged opinions about the support provided to Moldovan institutions from the Greek relevant institutions streamlined to Moldova’s rapprochement with the EU, under a cooperation memorandum in the European integration sector, signed between foreign ministries from Greece and Moldova on 8 April 2014.

Also, the two officials stressed the excellent level of bilateral relations, intense pace of political dialogue, need and potential of boosting economic cooperation between the two countries. They approached Moldova’s European agenda, cooperation within the Eastern Partnership, EU enlargement policy, energy security, policy and regional security. The Moldovan-Greek cooperation within BSEC (Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organisation) represented another important issue.

At the same time, Gherman asked the Greek official for support to speed up ratification by Greek parliament of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement. The Greek side assured that the document would be ratified by late November.

At the end, the officials signed an executive programme on cooperation in culture, education and science between the Moldovan and Greek governments for 2014-2016, meant to boost cooperation on the matter.

Gherman had a meeting with members of the Moldovan community from Greece and discussed domestic policy from Moldova, foreign policy priorities, cultural cooperation and need to encourage exchange of students between the two countries.