CHISINAU. Aug 5 (Interfax) - Moldova's prime ministerial candidate Natalia Gavrilita has urged dialogue with Russia.
"We had presidential and then parliamentary elections. It was a difficult period both politically and economically. The situation was further exacerbated by the pandemic crisis. Now we have overcome the hardest stage, the country has new government, there is stability. And we need to develop relations with our main partners: the European Union, our neighbors Romania and Ukraine, and the Russian Federation," Gavrilita told journalists on Thursday, commenting on a new government's program to be approved by the parliament on Friday.
"There has been no normal dialogue with Russia in recent years. Yet one is needed, it is necessary to establish an effective dialogue with Russia," she said.
The bilateral agenda includes some very important topics such as "Moldovan agricultural exports to Russia, a discussion of a new agreement on the import of Russian natural gas, and the situation of Moldovan migrant workers in Russia," Gavrilita said.
Another issue to be discussed separately is Transdniestria and removal of the Operative Group of Russian Troops from the region, she said.
"All this needs to be considered in tandem, given that Russia is a participant in the five plus two format. We must move gradually towards settling the Transdniestrian conflict. An important stage on this path is to destroy the 'grey schemes' and suppress smuggling routes via Transdniestria. And on this, we very much count on our mediators (Russia, Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) and the negotiation observers (United States and European Union)," Gavrilita said.
Last week Gavrilita was appointed as prime ministerial candidate by decree of President Maia Sandu and instructed to form a government and program.
Tomorrow the parliament will consider conducting a vote of confidence in the new government. Observers have no doubt the government will be confirmed. The pro-presidential Party of Action and Solidarity, of which Gavrilita is Vice Chairperson, won an absolute majority of 63 out of 101 seats in the parliament during last elections on July 11.