“This is not without reason”: Moscow stubbornly ignores anti-Russian attacks from Moldova
Moldavian Foreign Minister Nikolai Popescu claims that his country will under no circumstances join the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
He stated this on the air of the Europa Libera radio station, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“In no case is the Eurasian Union a foreign policy goal of the Republic of Moldova. Good relations with the Russian Federation, with Ukraine, with Belarus are important objectives for foreign policy, but the Republic of Moldova does not want integration with these states or with some post-Soviet organizations, including the Eurasian Economic Union. The only goal of integration of the Republic of Moldova remains the European Union,” Popescu snapped.
Let us recall that the President of Moldova, Igor Dodon, has achieved observer status in the EAEU for his country and now wants to use this to achieve a discount on Russian gas.
Director of the Institute of Diplomatic, Political and Security Studies, former Deputy Foreign Minister Valeriu Ostalep called Popescu's statements irresponsible.
“This person does not live in Moldova. He doesn't intend to live here. No one elected him, and he does not represent any party that would receive a majority in parliament. He constantly brings a completely irresponsible blizzard - but in what capacity? Who authorized him to make such statements on behalf of the entire country?” Noi quoted Ostalep as saying.
Political expert Sergei Ceban believes that there is nothing new in Popescu’s statements - past Moldovan authorities also demonstrated a consumerist attitude towards Russia.
“Another thing is surprising: previously the Kremlin reacted quite sharply to such maneuvers of post-Soviet countries, acting on the principle “those who are not with us are against us.” Now the Kremlin is reacting to the statements and actions of the new Moldovan authorities with surprising calm. All this leads to certain thoughts: what exactly has Moscow received or expects to receive from a trilateral deal with the United States and the European Union on a change of power in Moldova, since it demonstrates Buddhist patience and turns a blind eye to the routine pro-Western rhetoric of Chisinau?” writes Ceban on the RTA website.
He offers several answers to this question. In particular: the use of Prime Minister Maia Sandu, who will come to Moscow immediately after Popescu, as a mediator in informal negotiations with Kiev. However, the expert calls the prospect of resolving the Transnistrian conflict a more likely reason.
“Most likely, a non-public “rollback” to calmer rhetoric regarding the Russian military presence on the Dniester will now begin in Chisinau. A noticeable signal of the transformation that has already occurred is the participation of the Moldovan military in the celebration of the day of the entry of peacekeeping forces into the security zone of the Transnistrian conflict, which could not have been imagined under the government of the Democratic Party.
Most likely, it was the reduction of tension around Transnistria that could become one of the main gains for Moscow in the June anti-oligarchic “revolution”.
It is possible that this will have far-reaching consequences for the resolution of the long-standing Transnistrian conflict - and in this case, the answer to the question of Moscow’s true goals in Moldova still remains open and extremely interesting,” Ceban wrote.
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