SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, let me formally welcome the Deputy Prime Minister of Moldova here to the State Department. He’s been having a series of very productive meetings and exchanges. We have been following with great interest the positive changes that are occurring in Moldova, and I’m looking forward to having an in-depth discussion with him about ways that the United States can further deepen and strengthen our partnership to ensure that all Moldovans have the opportunity for the future that they deserve.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER LEANCA: Madam Secretary of State, thank you very much. It’s very gratifying to be back in Washington, DC, to be back in the State Department. I am looking very much forward to our today discussion. As you mentioned already, yesterday and today I had very good discussions both on the Capitol Hill, with representatives of the U.S. Executive Branch, and think tanks. And I follow this wholehearted support for Moldova, for Moldova’s desire to become a free and democratic country, to distinguish itself through the respect for human rights.
Of course, we have a lot of challenges to meet and we are very determined to take our country ahead, but we know and we are confident that only together with the support of our friends and our allies we will be much more effective. And of course, the U.S. has extended to us the friendship, the extremely generous support, and we are extremely grateful to the American Government and to the American people for this generous support.
And of course, we are looking forward, after 20 years since we established our diplomatic relations to consolidate U.S. role in shaping further developments in our region as still crucial. And again, I am very happy to be back. I’m looking very much forward to our discussions.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you so very much. Thank you all very much.
