EU's Fuele Praises Moldova Progress But Says Reforms Still Needed

EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fuele

CHISINAU -- The European Union's enlargement commissioner has praised reforms made so far by Moldova but says further efforts must be made if Chisinau is to sign an Association Agreement with the bloc later this year.

Talking to journalists in the capital on January 23, Stefan Fuele welcomed the translation into Romanian and Russian of the Association Agreement, which was initialed by Moldova in Vilnius at a summit in November.

Fuele said the translations would help everyone -- including residents of the breakaway, mainly Russian-speaking Transdniester region -- to understand the benefits of the agreement.

Last month, Transdniester passed a law mandating Russian-language legislation, saying the separatist region's major goal is integration into a Russia-led Customs Union.

Moscow-backed Transdniester declared independence from Moldova in 1990. The two sides fought a short war in 1992.

No country has recognized Transdniester's independence.

With reporting by totul.md