Hoge Vertegenwoordiger Buitenlands en Veiligheidsbeleid Ashton bezoekt Moldavië (en)

Catherine Ashton i, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Commission Vice-President, pays her first visit to Moldova on Thursday to further deepen EU-Moldovan relations.

''I hope my first visit to Moldova will provide additional political impetus in our bilateral relationship, including issues with external and security dimensions,'' Catherine Ashton said.

Ashton will discuss efforts to revive the Transnistrian settlement process and update the Moldovan government on her recent meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in this regard.

During her visit she will meet Prime Minister Vlad Filat, acting President Marian Lupu and leader of the Communist Party (PCRM) Vladimir Veronin.

Catherine Ashton will also be in Bratislava on Thursday to attend the ministerial meeting of the V4 (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia) and Germany with the Eastern Partnership countries. This meeting will also be attended by Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle i.

Catherine Ashton will attend a press conference at the Slovak Foreign Ministry in Bratislava at 1430.

She will have a press point with PM Filat in Chisinau, Moldova at 1830 local time.