National Assembly Speaker Gerdjikov met with Moldavian President Vladimir Voronin

The President of Moldova Vladimir Voronin told National Assembly Speaker Prof. Ognian Gerdjikov that he had decreed the establishment of a university of the Bulgarian community in Moldova and now this must be organised. Prof. Gerdjikov voiced satisfaction with this issue as well as with the way the Moldavian state treats the ethnic Bulgarians living in Moldova.

National Assembly Speaker Gerdjikov said he would probably pay an official visit to Moldova by the end of 2004 or early in 2005.

Bulgaria’s experience on its road to EU membership is of considerable interest to Moldova, the Moldavian President stated during the meeting. Prof. Gerdjikov expressed the opinion that Moldova should start harmonizing its legislation with the European one from now on, as it is a long and complicated process.

By several weeks, Bulgaria will probably close one of the most complicated negotiation chapters – Agriculture, and hopes to conclude the process of EU accession negotiations this autumn, Gerdjikov acquainted his guest.

Eight bilateral agreements between Bulgaria and Moldova were signed yesterday, one of them being a free trade agreement, President Voronin said. Prof. Gerdjikov assured him that the Bulgarian National Assembly would duly ratify them.