Romania, Poland urge Moldova to continue reforms

(BUCHAREST) - Romania and Poland on Monday urged Moldova, Europe's poorest country, to press ahead with reforms, a day after a constitutional referendum was declared invalid.

"It is crucial for the (ruling) Alliance for European Integration to continue reforms, with Romania's and the EU's financial and political backing," Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi said during a press conference.

"Despite the failure of the referendum, the pro-European and reformist forces must be able to take advantage of the two billion euros, currently in the pipeline, from the EU, the IMF, and bilaterally," he added.

This aid package is a "political gesture signifying support for reforms," Baconschi stressed.

On a one-day visit to Romania, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said the two countries planned to "work together in order to back Moldova within the framework of EU's Eastern Partnership," aimed at spurring reforms in six former Soviet republics.

A referendum was called Sunday by Moldova's ruling liberal coalition in order to break an entrenched political stalemate by changing the constitution to bring in the direct election of the country's president.

For more than one year, the impoverished ex-Soviet nation has been without a president as the Western-leaning coalition failed to raise a necessary three-fifths majority in parliament, which has a large Communist minority, to elect a head of state.

But the referendum was declared invalid due to low turnout.

The country of 4.3 million has strong ties with neighboring Romania, which openly advocates its inclusion in the EU.