    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book I)]
    [January 30, 1995]
    [Pages 115-117]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Joint Statement With President Mircea Snegur of Moldova
    January 30, 1995

        At the invitation of President Clinton, President Mircea Snegur of
    the Republic of Moldova made a working visit to Washington. During their
    discussions on January 30, the two leaders welcomed the strong state of
    U.S.-Moldovan relations, which have expanded considerably since
    diplomatic contacts were established in 1992.
        President Snegur described the substantial progress made toward
    economic and democratic reform in Moldova. He mentioned that prices in
    Moldova have been completely liberalized, and reaffirmed his
    government's commitment to reduce government subsidies and privatize
    commercial enterprises. Noting Moldova's success over the past year in
    reducing inflation and maintaining the value of its currency, President
    Snegur pledged to continue working closely with international financial
    institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
    The Moldovan President reviewed the democratic parliamentary elections
    conducted in February 1994, and the adoption of a new constitution
    enshrining respect for democratic government and fundamental human
    rights.

    [[Page 116]]

        President Clinton praised Moldova's economic and political
    development, which has placed that country at the forefront among the
    new independent states of the former Soviet Union, and reiterated
    continued U.S. support for Moldovan reforms. President Clinton announced
    that Moldova will receive $22 million in technical assistance in fiscal
    year 1995, targeted primarily on privatization, economic restructuring,
    health and exchanges. This brings the total of U.S. assistance to
    Moldova since 1992 to well over $200 million. President Snegur expressed
    his appreciation for U.S. assistance over the past three years and cited
    the important impact this aid has had on the success of reform in
    Moldova.
        President Clinton and President Snegur discussed the inauguration of
    new programs in 1995 to assist Moldova in creating its first stock
    exchange, to help emerging small businesses in the regions outside
    Chisinau, to expand a program of technical assistance and training in
    agribusiness development, and to establish a permanent office of the
    Western NIS Enterprise Fund in Chisinau. President Snegur requested that
    the United States further its efforts to promote U.S. investment in
    Moldova, underlining that a favorable legal framework has been
    established to achieve this goal. The Peace Corps will initiate an
    Economic Development Program, expanding its current work to include
    volunteer advisers for small businesses and local entrepreneurs.
        Moldova and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are finalizing an
    agreement for $10 million in concessional food sales in 1995, and an
    additional $2 million in food donations. The Department of Agriculture
    will also fund at least 16 Moldovan participants in the Cochran
    Fellowship Program for 1995, which provides training programs in the
    United States for selected agricultural specialists. President Clinton
    announced the United States will seek beneficiary status for Moldova
    under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). Such a step is
    designed to promote greater bilateral trade through tariff reductions on
    various commercial items. During his visit to the White House, President
    Snegur and Vice President Gore signed the Globe Bilateral Agreement for
    Cooperation. The Globe program, initiated by the United States, is an
    international environmental science and education program that will
    bring students, teachers and scientists together to study the global
    environment.
        President Snegur discussed with President Clinton the status of
    negotiations toward a peaceful settlement of the separatist dispute in
    Moldova's eastern Transdniester region. He assured President Clinton of
    his commitment to a peaceful, negotiated settlement of the dispute in
    accordance with international standards and in cooperation with the
    international community, including the Organization for Security and
    Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). President Snegur described recent progress
    in negotiations to reestablish economic links between the communities on
    both sides of the Dniester River, and to formulate a special status for
    the Transdniester region within a unified Moldovan state. President
    Clinton lauded President Snegur for Moldova's exemplary approach toward
    peaceful resolution of this internal political dispute. He reaffirmed
    the United States' support for the independence, sovereignty and
    territorial integrity of Moldova and applauded its positive human rights
    record, particularly its treatment of national minorities. President
    Clinton reiterated that the United States would continue to promote a
    settlement of the Transdniester dispute, including through its
    cooperation with the OSCE.
        President Snegur reviewed the status of negotiations between Moldova
    and Russia concerning the withdrawal of the Russian 14th Army, noting
    the importance of the October 1994 framework agreement establishing a
    three-year withdrawal timetable. President Clinton expressed his
    expectation that Russia and Moldova would implement the terms of the
    agreement expeditiously and comprehensively, paying particular attention
    to the withdrawal of military equipment. The two presidents welcomed the
    OSCE's constructive role in following the implementation of the
    withdrawal agreement and searching for a lasting political solution of
    the problems in the eastern part of Moldova, as called for in last
    month's OSCE Budapest Summit.
        President Clinton and President Snegur noted the great strides made
    in recent years toward overcoming the division of the European continent
    and opening the way for closer cooperation among the European states.
    During President Snegur's visit to the Pentagon, he and Defense
    Secretary William Perry signed a Joint Statement on Future U.S.-Moldovan
    Defense and Military Relations. President Clinton welcomed Moldova's
    decision to participate in the Partnership for Peace, an important
    component

    [[Page 117]]

    in an emerging new security concept for Europe. Under the Warsaw
    Initiative, the United States will seek to provide Moldova assistance in
    the next fiscal year to complement Moldova's own resource commitments
    for Partnership activities. The two leaders reaffirmed their support for
    coordinated international efforts, through such structures as the OSCE
    and the United Nations, to promote peaceful solutions to regional
    conflicts.
        President Clinton and President Snegur expressed the belief that the
    visit by President Snegur contributed greatly to further strengthening
    bilateral relations. President Snegur expressed his warm appreciation to
    President Clinton and the people of the United States for the
    opportunity to visit.

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this statement.