Minister Delegate for European Affairs Victor Negrescu told a Monday's joint conference with Iurie Leanca, Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, that he shared with the latter Romania's concerns regarding "the recent events in Moldova."

"We have expressed Romania's concerns about the recent events in the Republic of Moldova. It is very important that the citizens of the Republic of Moldova continue to trust the institutions and the democratic mechanisms," Negrescu said.

At the same time, the minister delegate said that "Romania has been, is and will always be the most important partner of the Republic of Moldova in achieving its European objective."

"In this sense, the already reformed reform processes must be continued and even intensified, taking into account all aspects of European norms, customs and values," the Romanian official said.

In his turn, Iurie Leanca talked about the situation in Chisinau.

"We are aware of the concern that Mr. Negrescu referred to and not only do we know it, but we also feel it in Chisinau. I am personally just as concerned, even more so, because it is about my country and I understand the effects and the possible consequences of these decisions taken by the first court and after that, unfortunately, confirmed by the Court of Appeal," the Moldovan deputy prime minister said.

He also talked about the opinion of the law experts on this decision.

"I am not a legal expert and I will not dwell on any legal details, but I have seen the opinion of other experts in Chisinau, and I understand that this reasoning of the first court and afterwards that of the Court of Appeal is at the very least questionable," added the Moldovan official.

He also referred to the decision of the Supreme Court in Chisinau, scheduled for Monday.

"All I want to hope is that today the Supreme Court of Justice will prove wisdom and legal maturity and civic responsibility. After all, they are all citizens of the Republic of Moldova and I hope that they understand very well what the political effects are for the relationship between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union if they insist on perpetuating this decision," Leanca said.

He pointed out that this case concerns the electoral right guaranteed in a democracy.

"All I can say is that the right to elect is a pillar on which any society that wants to be democratic is based. This is what I most want, as a citizen of the Republic of Moldova - for democracy to triumph, the basic rights to be observed. Because only if we can prove such an attitude can we be helped by our friends, especially Romania, to finally come out from this turbulent area in which we have been for more than 20 years and show the citizens that there is light also at home, in the Republic of Moldova," Leanca explained.

The Moldovan official stressed that in this case the "decisions of the institutions" count for him, beyond the public debate.

"We have talked a lot about the fact that the Moldovan Justice needs to be reformed, modernized and impartial. Today I wish we heard a decision that will give us some assurances, so that we can see that there are indeed certain positive developments in this sense," Iurie Leanca stated.

Victor Negrescu and Iurie Leanca made joint statements at the end of the 5th session of the Romania-Moldova Intergovernmental Commission for European Integration, which took place in Bucharest.

The Supreme Court of Justice of the Republic of Moldova is due to examine on Monday the appeal filed by Andrei Nastase, one of the leaders of the pro-European opposition and the winner of the elections for the Chisinau mayor's office, against the decisions of the Chisinau Court and the Court of Appeal regarding the invalidation of elections for the mayoralty, the Moldovan media inform.

The US State Department, the European Union, as well as several diplomatic missions accredited in Chisinau have sent messages expressing concern about the developments related to the invalidation of local elections won by one of the leaders of the pro-European opposition.

Several thousands of people protested on Sunday in Chisinau against the decision to invalidate municipal elections. Several inhabitants of the capital remained on Sunday night in front of the Parliament and will continue their protest at the Supreme Court during the day. AGERPRES (RO - author: Oana Ghita, editor: Mihai Simionescu; EN - author: Bogdan Gabaroi, editor: Simona Iacob)