“More than ever before, today Moldova has an opportunity to implement democratic reforms to make the future of the Moldovan people better. The military threat of Russia is considerable in both, our and the Black Sea region. We will continue demonstrating unity and help to strengthen Moldova’s security and defence, as well as deepen Moldova’s relations with the European Union and NATO,” said Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas Thursday while meeting Moldova’s Minister of Defence Anatolie Nosatii and Minister of Foreign Affairs Nicu Popescu during his visit to the country.
During the official visit to Moldova, A. Anušauskas, his colleagues from the Moldovan Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs, and Chair for the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, Defence and Public Order, MP Lilian Carp, discussed regional security and bilateral cooperation. Another issue discussed was the gas crisis in Moldova that was caused by the Russian gas corporation Gazprom gas price increase.
“We discussed the prospects of securing Moldova’s energy independence, Lithuania’s political support to the new Government of Moldova and its objective to strengthen the cooperation with the EU and NATO by means of the reform of Moldova’s defence sector. We have agreed to continue working together on the reform in the Moldovan Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces in line with the wester standards,” said Minister A. Anušauskas.
Lithuanian and Moldovan Ministers of Defence met to discuss the EU assistance to Moldova for military capacity building and Moldova’s plans to become actively engaged in the EU Eastern Partnership programmes. When addressing the prospects of further bilateral cooperation, A. Anušauskas asserted that Lithuania could apply its experience gained in Ukraine, i.e., all-round assistance to the end of the Euro-Atlantic integration, for the benefit of Moldova by training officers and advising the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces.
Minister A. Anušauskas also met with Acting Head of the NATO Liaison Office in Moldova Barbora Paclikova in Kishinev to discuss Alliance programmes for the country. A. Anušauskas gave the opening speech of the NATO Week in Moldova at the Moldova State University.
The Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to the Republic of Moldova has been carrying out the NATO Contact Point Embassy functions since 2019.
Lithuania and Moldova began defence cooperation in 2004. Moldovan officers have been invited to different short-term security courses and seminars held in Lithuania, English Language and the Junior Officer Command Training Course at the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania since then. Moldovan servicemembers also study at paramedic and international instructor courses at the Lithuanian Armed Forces School.