BUCHAREST, Romania – Romania and Moldova signed a border treaty Monday, almost two decades after Moldova declared independence from the Soviet Union, Associated Press writes.
 Romania’s Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi and Moldova’s Prime Minister Vlad Filat emphasized the good co-operation between the neighbours, which has resulted in a number of new agreements being adopted in the past year since a pro-European alliance came to power. Romania supports Moldova’s current government. Monday’s signing took place ahead of a general election in Moldova on Nov. 28 in which the pro-European parties face the Communists who favour closer ties to Moscow.
 Romania’s President Traian Basescu said last month that the treaty will disprove claims by Moldovan Communists that Romania has territorial claims on Moldova. This was echoed by Baconschi, who said that by signing the document “we also discourage the obsessive affirmations” of some Moldovan politicians who believe Romania has claims on Moldova.  The treaty deals with technical issues such as the marking of the border, usage of water, railways and roads, fishing, hunting and breaches of the border regime.

Romania has been lobbying hard for closer ties between Moldova and the European Union, of which Romania is a member. Baconschi said Romania hopes that the border with Moldova will eventually become an internal border within the European Union.

 European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has welcomed the signing of a border treaty, calling it “an excellent example” of regional cooperation. Bucharest has repeatedly refused to sign a bilateral political treaty with Moldova, most of which was part of Romania before World War II.

 Romania was the first country to establish diplomatic relations with Moldova after the latter declared independence from the Soviet Union in August 1991. Romania’s President Traian Basescu had repeatedly stated that Bucharest shall never sign a treaty recognizing the consequences of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and the secret additional protocol to it.  However, the delicate pre-election situation in Moldova has finally changed Romania’s official stance on this issue.