Moldova will integrate into the European Union when the people believe that everything is possible. This is the most important thing. “I have followed the atmosphere in Moldova for a year and a half and I see that the problem does not reside in the fact that the Moldovan citizens cannot do something for the European integration. They simply do not believe in this,” Polish Ambassador in Chisinau Artur Michalski said in an interview for IPN.
According to the diplomat, a relevant example is the recent liberalization of the visa regime for all the Moldovan citizens. “Two weeks before the abolition of the EU visa requirements for Moldovans, after we had spoken about this for a rather long period of time, the Moldovan people were still skeptical that something like this is possible. It won’t be easy, but it’s possible. I underline once again in the name of all the European ambassadors that if Moldova integrates into the EU, this will be due to the conviction, efforts and determination of the country’s people because the assistance that you receive from the EU is indeed assistance. However, your effort and determination are more important,” said Artur Michalski.
He added that there is a very dangerous phenomenon in many ex-Soviet countries, though in Moldova its intensity is much lower and this makes it different from other states. The people are convinced that the West is built on money only. “I would like to ask these people - did the money or the people who invented it appear first? I shall be understood correctly. I do not want to say that the money should be neglected. On the country, it is important. But mind works in a different way. Firth of all you should know what you want and work hard to achieve these objectives. The money comes afterward. Not vice versa,” stated Artur Michalski.