The Republic of Moldova can benefit from the partnership with Hungary, but the way must be paved very carefully so as not to upset our Ukrainian neighbors, Watchdog expert Andrei Curăraru said in connection of Prime Minister Dorin Recean’s visit to Hungary. According to him, Moldova needs more allies in the European integration process and the Chisinau-Budapest relationship can be pragmatic, IPN reports.

The expert noted that Premier Recean’s visit to Budapest is advantageous to Moldova as Hungary will take over the presidency of the European Council on July 1.

“The format in which the decision to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova was taken, in the absence of Hungary from the table, slightly tarnished the country’s image. Now the Hungarians want to polish their image a bit before taking over the presidency. We must understand that the objection regarding Ukraine does not affect the Republic of Moldova. It is important for our country to be on this strategic and geopolitical wave with Ukraine, but the objections towards the two states are at different levels,” Andrei Curăraru stated in the program “Parallel 47” on Radio Moldova.

According to the expert, Moldova should maintain a pragmatic partnership with Hungary as all the objections raised by Victor Orban before the European Council took its decision to open accession negotiations were aimed at Ukraine, not Moldova.

“In the Republic of Moldova, there is no Hungarian minority and there are no animosities with Hungary, as there are between Hungary and Ukraine. Although this terrain is interesting, its exploration must be very careful so as not to upset our Ukrainian neighbors. The statement by Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter Szijjarto, who said that each candidate must be evaluated individually, is a good message. The Republic of Moldova needs more allies in the European integration process. Pragmatically, we can benefit from this partnership too, even if it is a momentary and circumstantial one,” noted Andrei Curăraru.

Prime Minister Dorin Recean paid an official visit to Budapest on January 24-25. The meeting with his Hungarian counterpart centered on large regional infrastructure and energy projects, such as the Three Seas Initiative and the Greece-Bulgaria-Romania-Hungary gas transmission corridor.