Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 13 July 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 17 July 2007. It was answered by Jim Murphy (Labour) on Thursday, 19 July 2007 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Official Visits: Moldova

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what preparations he plans to make in response to the visit of the President of Moldova to the United Kingdom later in 2007; what (a) events and (b) meetings are planned; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: We are looking at future opportunities for inward visits from Moldova from senior figures including the President of Moldova. The timing of the president’s visit, however, has not yet been confirmed. It would be inappropriate to comment, therefore, on the tentative arrangements made thus far.The UK enjoys a constructive relationship with Moldova and welcomes further co-operation between the UK and Moldova both bilaterally and within the EU. Over the last year, we have welcomed many high profile visitors to the UK, particularly Moldovan Ministers and parliamentarians. The Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament, Dr. Marian Lupu, visited the UK in February last year for meetings with Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials. Valeriu Ostalep, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration visited the UK in July 2006, while the Minister of Defence, Valeriu Plesca, visited the UK in September 2006, meeting with, among others, my noble Friend the Minister of State for Defence, Lord Drayson. My right hon. Friend the then Minister for Europe (Mr. Hoon), met President Voronin and other senior figures during his visit to Moldova in February this year, and met the First Deputy Prime Minister, Mrs. Zinaida Grecianîi on her visit here last November.

Secondary information