Romanian Foreign Minister Calls For 'Fair' Moldova Elections

BUCHAREST -- Romanian Foreign Minister Cristian Diaconescu has said Bucharest wants to see fair parliamentary elections held in neighboring Moldova on July 29, RFE/RL's Moldovan Service reports.

Diaconescu said on July 9 that "we would like a correct, equitable electoral process in Moldova [in which] all political parties have equal access to the public."

He refused to comment on an endorsement by Romanian President Traian Basescu earlier this week for the Moldovan opposition, which is largely pro-EU and pro-Romanian.

Ties between the two countries have been strained by Moldova's accusations that Bucharest fomented unrest in Chisinau after the controversial Moldovan parliamentary elections on April 5, which were won by the ruling, pro-Russian Communists.

Romania has denied any involvement in the demonstrations, which turned violent.