Moldovan-Georgian Meeting in Rome

CHISINAU, October 17, 2016 — Minister of Defense Anatol Salaru met today with Deputy Defense Minister of Georgia, Lela Chiqovani, in Rome, Italy, within the annual South-East Europe Defense Ministerial (SEDM).

Military bilateral cooperation and the cooperation within NATO, defense sector reformation, and the regional security were the main issues discussed by the two officials.

Anatol Salaru appreciated the availability of Georgia to strengthen the military cooperation with the Republic of Moldova and specified that this is an opportunity to develop new projects beneficial for both armies.

Minister of Defense Anatol Salaru is paying an official visit to Italy within October 17-19, in order to participate in the SEDM.

The SEDM is a regional initiative that brings together Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Slovenia, the United States of America, Turkey, and Ukraine.

The SEDM was established in 1996 and aims to strengthen the regional political-military cooperation and to consolidate the stability and security in South-East Europe. Each year, the SEDM includes a decision-making meeting of the Defense Ministers and a military consultations meeting of the Chiefs of General Staff.

The Republic of Moldova attends the Defense Ministerial as observer.