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Romania will continue to be a convinced supporter of the European integration process of the Republic of Moldova, the logical conclusion of which is the accession to the EU, Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister Titus Corlatean said in Chisinau, on Tuesday, in a joint press conference with Moldovan Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Natalia Gherman.

'Romania sees the process of political and economic association to the EU in the logic of a future accession to the European Union,' Titus Corlatean said, who hailed the progress made by the neighbour state on its European course.

In this context, he mentioned the success of the common visit on Friday of Prime Ministers Victor Ponta and Iurie Leanca to Brussels, when European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso announced the authorities of Chisinau having fulfilled the conditions for the visa regime liberalisation. 'The report presented clearly states that the Republic of Moldova fulfills the technical criteria for the liberalisation of the visa regime. There follow the political decisions of the European Council and Parliament,' the Romanian chief diplomat pointed out.

He voiced his hope that these decisions would be made over 2014. 'It is a huge step forward made by the Republic of Moldova in its European integration,' Titus Corlatean said.

He also spoke of the initialling, at the Eastern Partnership Summit of Vilnius, of the Association Agreement and of the Free Trade Agreement, which would be signed during the mandate of the current European Parliament and ratified by the Parliament of Chisinau until the future legislative elections, scheduled for the end of next year. 'I have reasons to be extremely confident about the success of the Summit of Vilnius as far as the Republic of Moldova is concerned,' Titus Corlatean added, referring to the initialling of the two agreements.

Natalia Gherman thanked the Romanian authorities for the support granted to the Republic of Moldova both as concerned the European course and the financial assistance and the common projects which were being implemented.

'These excellent relations existing on all levels are already turned into concrete projects currently being implemented,' Gherman said, referring mainly to the projects in the area of infrastructure and energy security, such as Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline.

Moreover, she stressed that the Republic of Moldova remained the priority destination of the external financial assistance granted by Romania. Agerpres