"Dear Madam Administrator Power,
Dear Samantha, welcome back to Chisinau!
This time, we meet again in a very dramatic context for Ukraine, but also for all of us.
It is a pleasure to address you in person today at the sixth Eastern Partnership Summit. The long-awaited summit is an opportunity for us to take stock of our progress and reassert the Republic of Moldova’s commitment to the Eastern Partnership agenda. A partnership that is based on common values, mutual interests and shared responsibility.
Thank you for the opportunity to open the 10th Annual Meeting of the Conference of Regional and Local Authorities for the Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP). I trust that this reunion will bring value to the entire network of regional and local authorities from our region, and will also contribute to further empowering Moldovan communities and local governments.
It is an honor for me to address this high-level forum on International Anti-Corruption Day on behalf of the citizens of my country, the Republic of Moldova. Despite setbacks we have experienced in the past, Moldova’s citizens continue to believe in fundamental justice. They have once again rallied together to demand from politicians an end to the pervasive graft that has hindered our young democracy.
On behalf of my country and fellow citizens, I extend my sincere congratulations on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of UNESCO.
I am glad to be back at the Forum 2000 Conference, even though virtually this time. Thank you for the invitation. The hardships of the pandemic, the rise of populism and authoritarianism, the challenges brought about by the digital age - all these issues make us raise the question that you put in the title of the conference: how do we build back democratically. And our answers will shape the future of our communities and the future of our world.
A few weeks ago, my country, the Republic of Moldova, celebrated the 30-th anniversary of its independence. I want to use this opportunity to once again congratulate my fellow citizens on this important milestone to us! Together, we chose democracy and freedom over corruption and state capture. It is my great honor to address today this high-level UN forum on their behalf.
Presidency of the Republic of Moldova
