Romania Offers Pro-EU Moldovans Helping Hand

During a two-day official visit to neighbouring Moldova, Romania's new President, Klaus Iohannis, said Romania remains an "anchor of stability in the region" as well as a "partner of neighbouring Moldova and Ukraine on their path to Europe".

Adressing the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine between the pro-European government and pro-Russian separatists, Iohannis said Romanians felt "concerned regarding the implications that the developments in Ukraine can have on Moldova's stability. Romania supports a peaceful solution, as well as the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries in the region", he added.

Iohannis said Bucharest was interested in better political and economic relations with Moldova's pro-European new government.

Earlier this month, Moldova's parliament chose Chiril Gaburici, a pro-European businessman, as the new Prime Minister, putting another former Soviet republic on possible collision course with Russia.

Gaburici has vowed to make European integration a top priority and ensure that Moldova can qualify to apply for EU membership by 2018.

Moldova has been governed for the last five years by a pro-Europe coalition. However, Russia has warned that the drive for closer ties to the EU could damage its hopes of regaining control of the breakaway pro-Russian region of Transdniester and could also lead to higher prices for Russian natural gas.

The political situation in Moldova is being watched closely by Brussels, Washington and Moscow, as they engage in what some call a proxy war over Moldova's neighbour, Ukraine.

In June 2014, Moldova signed an association agreement with the EU and also secured visa-free travel to the bloc, despite complaints and warnings from Russia, which retaliated by imposing...