Biden arrives in Moldova to warm welcome
by Coreneliu Rusnac

The Associated Press    Translate This Article
11 March 2011

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) - U.S. Vice President Joe Biden urged Moldova to continue democratic reforms and move closer to the European Union as he embarked on a one-day visit to the former Soviet republic, Europe's poorest country.

Thousands of Moldovans lined the streets, waving Moldovan and U.S. flags to greet Biden, who is the most senior U.S. official to visit the nation since it proclaimed independence in August 1991 in the wake of the break-up of the Soviet Union.

Biden was welcomed by Prime Minister Vlad Filat and his wife Sanda at the airport with the traditional greeting of bread and salt, and later held talks with the 41-year-old pro-European prime minister.

Biden arrived in Moldova from Russia after a two-day visit focused on efforts to 'reset' relations.

Emerging from talks with Filat, Biden said, 'We believe Moldova is a European state' that should integrate into the EU. He said the United States supported Moldova's European path and urged it to implement democratic reforms.

Biden will give a public speech later Friday in Opera Square, the scene of April 2009 pro-democracy protests where three people died and over 100 injured as Communists tried to cling to power after losing elections. Moldova has remained mired in political deadlock.

In November elections, Filat's Liberal Democrats and his pro-European coalition partners won a combined 59 seats, compared with 42 for the Communists. However, the coalition is short of the 61 seats needed to elect a president under Moldovan law.

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Associated Press writer Alison Mutler in Bucharest contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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