There is a discrepancy between the European integration concept, the European integration and the realities in the Republic of Moldova, Western political analyst Vladimir Socor stated in a debate held in Bucharest by the Black Sea University Foundation. The expert noted Moldova’s foreign policy is that of a captured state and is designed to serve those who control this state, IPN reports.
According to Vladimir Socor, the European Union for a period banked on the Alliance for European Integration that included the PDM that is now managed by Vlad Plahotniuc. But the current European Commission realized and practically ostracized the government of Mister Plahotniuc. “It needed time to perceive the reality, but did it even if late,” stated the analyst. The European Commission and the European Parliament suspended the macro-financial assistance intended for Moldova.
Vladimir Socor said the former EU Ambassador in Chisinau Pirkka Tapiola warned Brussels during many years not to associate the EU’s image in Moldova with Vlad Plahotniuc and his government. During several years, Pirkka Tapiola hadn’t been listened to and the European Commission acted almost inversely. But the current European Commission corrected this policy and could not do otherwise after the theft of the US$ 1 billion, the adoption of the electoral system that guarantees Igor Dodon’s party the second place in the Moldovan political system and the invalidation of the Chisinau mayoral elections.
As to the relationship with the U.S., Vladimir Socor said that lacking legitimacy at the foreign level, the government of Moldova is looking for a foreign substitute. But Moldova is not a priority on the agenda of the Washington. It is also not the priority of Moscow, even if they think the opposite. Vlad Plahotniuc wants to normalize the relations with the Russian Federation through the partnership with Igor Dodon. The partnership is evident as Vlad Plahotniuc during the last few years allowed the Party of Socialists to grow freely. “Later, Mister Plahotniuc made Mister Dodon President,” stated the analyst. He noted Igor Dodon won the parliamentary elections at a small distance from Maia Sandu and this small distance was ensured by the attacks against Maia Sandu staged by the media holding of Vlad Plahotnuc.
The analyst also said the negotiation of a special status for Transnistria would “mortgage” Moldova’s future, would permanently block the unionist option and the European option. “Both of these options that, to my mind, intersect each other will become impossible if the Transnistrian problem is ‘solved’ by offering a special status,” stated Vladimir Socor. He added that the option of the special status is not legitimate in the diplomatic or constitutional practice of a state that at least theoretically wants a European course, not speaking about an eventual unionist course.
According to the analyst, the special status implies equality of rights between Chisinau and Tiraspol. After Transnistria, a chain reaction would be triggered and Gagauzia and later the majority Bulgarian Taraclia district and the predominantly Russophone town Bălți would also seek a special status. “I described this possible process as cantonalization of the Republic of Moldova. It wound not be a bilateral Chisinau-Tiraspol federalization, but a cantonalization or disintegration of the territory and disorganization of the state,” concluded Vladimir Socor.
The debate staged in Bucharest by the Black Sea University Foundation was entitled “Republic of Moldova Today. European integration between hopes and disappointments”. The debate involved the PAS leader Maia Sandu and PPPDA leader Andrei Năstase.
