AK Party Deputy Chairman Kürşad Zorlu was received by Moldovan President Maia Sandu. The meeting addressed Türkiye-Moldova relations, developments in Gagauzia and ways to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
Zorlu said that relations between the two countries were developing day by day and that they were closely following developments in Gagauzia and the process surrounding their repercussions. He said they would continue contributing to efforts to support Gagauzia’s economic and social development, protect its cultural heritage and strengthen ties with Moldova.
Zorlu invited Sandu to the COP31 Summit, which will be held in Türkiye in November. Sandu said they attached great importance to relations with Türkiye in every field and were pleased to see Türkiye’s growing influence in the world.
Sandu stressed that Gagauzia’s constitutional rights and autonomous status would not be harmed, adding that they were ready for high-level cooperation with Türkiye on the issue. The Moldovan president said she looked forward to opening the Vocational High School built by Türkiye together with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and thanked the Turkish delegation for its visit.
Türkiye’s mediation role highlighted
Zorlu held a one-on-one meeting with Moldovan Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu at the State House. The meeting addressed Türkiye’s position in global politics, its mediation role in regional peace and stability, and developments in Gagauzia.
Referring to the war in Ukraine, Zorlu said Türkiye had adopted an approach that took into account both its relations with Russia and the need to stop the war in Ukraine and preserve Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Zorlu said Moldova’s territorial integrity was also of great importance to Türkiye.
Gagauzia at the center of the agenda
Zorlu discussed bilateral relations and current issues with Moldovan Prime Minister Vasile Tofan. Saying that Türkiye-Moldova relations were progressing on the basis of mutual trust, friendship and common interests, Zorlu said support for Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would continue.
Pointing to the importance of economic ties, Zorlu said the $1 billion target in foreign trade between the two countries had been reached and expressed hope that a new target would be set soon. Saying that Gagauzia was the main focus of the visit, Zorlu said joint investments could be made in the economic sphere in the new period, alongside language and cultural initiatives.
Tofan said they attached great importance to cooperation with Türkiye and that strengthening cooperation with Türkiye on a reciprocal basis was one of the priority programs of the Moldovan government. Tofan said Gagauzia should serve as a bridge for cooperation between Moldova and Türkiye, and thanked Türkiye for its projects and support in Moldova.
Message of cooperation on new projects
Zorlu held an interdelegation meeting with Carolina Perebinos, Moldova’s State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting noted that the experience accumulated through the establishment of diplomatic relations and the signing of the Strategic Partnership Document provided a strong foundation for taking relations further.
Zorlu reiterated Türkiye’s support for Moldova’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Saying that strengthening Moldova’s stability and prosperity was important for regional peace and security, Zorlu said economic relations were developing alongside political ties.
Zorlu said Türkiye was ready to cooperate on new projects in education, culture and youth affairs through its institutions and organizations, particularly the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA). He said a visit to Gagauzia aimed to strengthen ties between the Gagauz people in the region and Moldova.
Zorlu said the Gagauz language was one of the language groups in the world closest to Türkiye Turkish, adding that peace and prosperity in Gagauzia could not be considered separately from Moldova’s overall stability. Perebinos also said the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia served as a bridge between Türkiye and Moldova.
Following the talks, Zorlu and the accompanying delegation were scheduled to travel to Comrat to conduct inspections. Zorlu was accompanied by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Chisinau Uygar Mustafa Sertel and AK Party Deputy Chairmen for Relations with the Turkic States Mahmut Rıdvan Nazırlı and Naim Makas.
