Experts discuss planned visit by Russian officials to Chisinau

05.06.2014 06:29
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3 minute(s)

The goal of the visit to Chisinau by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his deputy Grigory Karasin is to make the Moldovan authorities not to sign the Association Agreement with the European Union, experts said in the program “Fabrika” produced by Publika TV channel, IPN reports.

Expert in constitutional law Nicolae Osmochescu said the visit by the Russian officials is aimed at exerting pressure so as to prevent the signing of the Association Agreement with the EU.

Alexandru Cauia, dean of the Law Faculty of the Moldova Free International University, said the aim of this visit is to intimidate the Moldovan authorities and to convince them not to sign the accord. “Lavrov is not Rogozin, but he can remind us about the Transnistrian region, our dependence on hydrocarbons, the market for selling our products and about the labor market where 500,000 Moldovans work,” he stated.

Former Deputy Foreign Minister Valeriu Ostalep also considers that the Russian officials will blackmail the Moldovan Government with the Moldovans working in Russia and with the Transnistrian region. “Moscow can say that they no longer need Moldovan workers and we will have to look for jobs in the EU or in Moldova. We pay the highest price for gas and the gas will not be a subject for blackmail. I don’t think that Russia will recognize Transnistria. They don’t need it. But if we pretend that Tiraspol does not exist, this will permanently be a problem,” he said.

Ex-Minister of Defense Victor Gaiciuc said the Government of Moldova should make concessions to Russia so that it does not hinder Moldova form following the path to the EU. Not coming closer to NATO can be one of the concessions. “For the Russians, it is important that the NATO forces be as far from their borders as possible. That’s why our neutrality should be guaranteed not only by the Constitution, but also by an international organization, such as the OSCE, with the support of Washington. This way Russia will get rid of a great tension,” he stated.

In a TV program this week, Prime Minister Iurie Leanca said that he hopes the visit by the Russian officials to Chisinau will help improve the relations with Russia.