The geopolitical impact in the Republic of Moldova persists, but this is normal because geopolitics is a discipline that takes into consideration the geographical position for solving problems related to the socioeconomic development and security. “Metaphorically speaking, Moldova is a small island that oscillates between two tectonic plates – the European and the Eurasian one. But it can be easily smashed if it does not try to join one plate or another. Moldova oscillates between the European and Eurasian plates because it needs to ensure its socioeconomic development and national security, the standing expert of IPN’s project Igor Botan stated in the public debate: “Geopolitical genes” of Moldovans: between myth and reality” that was organized by IPN News Agency and Radio Moldova.
The expert noted that the Moldovans have healthy instincts because they want things in the country to go on and thus oscillate. “During their eight-year government, the Communists promised they will integrate the country into the Russia-Belarus Union, but did very important things for coming closer to the European Union. Ultimately, the so-called pro-Europeans came to power and these disappointed the people,” he said.
“Figures show that when the Communists governed, 75% of the citizens were in favor of the European integration. The situation has yet changed radically after eight years of government by pro-Europeans. These are the results of the government and they cannot shift the blame on the people who want to ensure normal development for their families and want security to be ensured in our country. This thing is also evident in the structure of our migration. Almost 1 million Moldovans went abroad to earn their living and to keep the country on a floating line,” stated Igor Botan.
He noted that half of those who migrated are in the Russian Federation, which is on the Eurasian tectonic plate, while the other half are on the European plate and further, in Canada. These are absolutely objective realities so that we cannot get rid of geopolitical genes. The compromise in this regard was reached 15 years ago, in 2002, and a repeat of the scenario was witnessed eight years ago, when the Republic of Moldova found itself again between the two tectonic plates, benefiting from the free trade agreement with the EU, signed in 2014, and from free trade agreements with the CIS, signed in 2011.
“This was our equilibrium point. With our country integrated regionally with free trade agreements with Europe and with the CIS, we needed a competent government that would have used the geopolitical advantages so that the Republic of Moldova was a kind of trident between the West and the Eurasian area and that capital from the Russian Federation came to the Republic of Moldova based on the free trade regime and produced value added and was then exported without problems and vice versa. This would have been ideal, but things were thwarted,” stated the expert
He added that the events that followed in Ukraine after this didn’t sign the Association Agreement with the EU at the Vilnius Summit have a geopolitical undertone and directly affect the Republic of Moldova. “If Ukraine detaches itself somehow from the Eurasian plate, this will have an impact on the geopolitics of the Republic of Moldova. Things should not be simplified as they are related between them and are difficult,” said Igor Botan.
“From geopolitical viewpoint, the Republic of Moldova for the European Union is a source of problems related to trafficking in people, organs, arms, drugs and others and thus proposed a plan of action for Moldova and offered support for development so that the people stayed at home and didn’t invade Europe. We accepted, signed documents and then our political elites started to do what everyone knows,” explained the expert.
The public debate “Geopolitical genes” of Moldovans: between myth and reality” is the 73rd installment of the series of debates “Developing political culture by public debates” that are staged with financial support from the Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany.
