The U.S. plans to provide Moldova with additional $64.5 million to support its long-term democratic and economic sustainability.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said this was announced during a meeting held in Washington by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita. The sides discussed further U.S. assistance to support Moldova's democratic reform program, energy security and its humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine. The U.S. Secretary of State and the Moldovan Prime Minister also discussed the announcement made on July 15 at the Moldova Support Platform in Bucharest that the U.S. government, working with Congress, plans to program an additional $64.5 million to support Moldova's long-term democratic and economic sustainability and help our country defend its sovereignty. Natalia Gavrilita spoke about the actions undertaken to reform the justice system, fight corruption and consolidate the state's institutions, as well as the assistance needed to carry out reforms in strategic fields. Prime Minister said that ensuring the citizens' well-being and backing vulnerable groups is currently a priority for the executive, with the authorities also focusing on managing the energy crisis, ensuring food safety and reorienting trade. "We are working to continue the process of modernizing the country and implementing Moldova's European agenda after the decision to grant our country EU candidate status. Now we have an even greater responsibility to our citizens, who aspire to be part of the space of peace, stability and family of EU states," Natalia Gavrilita said. For his part, Antony Blinken noted that the transformations initiated by the Moldovan government are perceived with great optimism by the United States, which will stay with our country and support the priority reforms. "We see a government with a strong agenda of strengthening democracy, fighting corruption and ensuring energy security - all areas that the United States fully supports," Antony Blinken said. The U.S. secretary of state noted the support the Moldovan people have granted to refugees from Ukraine, and said the Moldovan authorities must be supported in overcoming the humanitarian and food crisis. //20.07.2022 - InfoMarket.
