Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Mihail Popsoi during the joint inauguration of the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in New Delhi. | Photo credit: PTI
India on Sunday (Dec 15, 2024) expressed its appreciation for the assistance provided by Moldova in airlifting stranded Indian nationals to be evacuated when the war in Ukraine breaks out in February 2022. Appreciation of India Foreign Minister Dr. Done by S Jaishankar. In an event held in Delhi, where the Embassy of Moldova was formally inaugurated, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Moldova, Mihail Popsoi, was present.
“Moldova provided significant assistance during Operation Ganga to evacuate a large number of Indian students trapped during the Ukraine crisis,” Mr. Jaishankar said while acknowledging Moldova’s support to Indian nationals in Ukraine, when Russian forces faced serious threat when they launched a ‘special offensive’. Military operations against Ukraine. Operation Ganga was launched to airlift Indian students and professionals in Ukraine. At least 20,000 Indian citizens in Ukraine were displaced with the help of neighboring Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Moldova and Hungary.
Mr Jaishankar also announced that India would open an embassy in Moldova in the “not too distant future”.
Mr. Jaishankar said India and Moldova, located in a strategically important part of Eastern Europe, share a “common vision of the world that values peace, understanding and cooperation”. The Embassy of Moldova has been operating out of New Delhi for almost a year but Mr. Jaishankar and Mr. Popsoi formally inaugurated it on Sunday (December 15, 2024) by unveiling the official emblem of the Embassy of Moldova. A post-Soviet state, Moldova established diplomatic relations with India in 1992 but this is the first time it has opened an embassy in India.
Addressing the event, Foreign Minister Popsoi said that the opening of the Embassy of Moldova is a special moment in the relations between the two sides. “We conducted the second round of Foreign Office consultations, reaffirming political engagement after a gap of 21 years. The first official visit of our Education Minister was two weeks ago. This year we started a scholarship program for Indian students and we will expand this initiative,” said Mr. Popsoi.
The number of Indian students in Moldova has increased “significantly” this year, the visiting dignitary said. The minister called for closer cooperation in the agricultural sector and urged Indians to try the famous Moldovan wines.
Both sides have signed a visa waiver agreement for holders of diplomatic and official passports, and Moldova has also joined the International Solar Alliance. India and Moldova have signed an agreement to enhance cooperation between foreign service institutions of both sides. “Despite geographical distance and different traditions, Moldova and India have always maintained a bond of mutual respect and understanding,” Mr. Popsoi said.
published – December 15, 2024 at 10:17 am IST