UNITED NATIONS, September 26. /ITAR-TASS/. Moldova hopes to normalize trade relations with Russia through the dialogue based on the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) norms, Moldovan Foreign Minister Natalia Gherman said on Thursday.

Taking the floor during the general political debate at the UN General Assembly session, she called “unjustified” Russia’s restrictions on the import of Moldovan goods and said the country’s trade relations with the entire CIS were damaged as a result. The minister said Moldova hoped that the continuing dialogue with the Russian partners, based on the WTO and CIS rules, would help resume normal trade relations.

In early June, Russia imposed restrictions on the import of meat from Moldova on the grounds of detected violations of the Customs Union veterinary-sanitary norms by Moldova. At the end of the month, after the signing of the EU association agreement by Chisinau, the agreement on free trade with Russia lost effect. As a result, import duties were introduced for Moldova’s agricultural produce, wine, food products, furniture and other goods.

In this connection Gherman thanked the EU for supporting the efforts to minimize the effects of the restrictions and duties. Full access of Moldovan wines and agricultural produce to the EU market, as well as a new trade agreement with Turkey will promote the market diversification in the future, the foreign minister said, adding that the country would continue to search for new trade partners in the world.

She said that Moldova has opted for a European future, adding that the country seeks to establish fruitful relations will al partners in the East and West.

Gherman, unlike her colleagues from a number of other East European countries, during her speech abstained from hurling accusations at Russia over the development in Ukraine.