The geopolitical course will most probably not be put up for a referendum before the next parliamentary elections, President Igor Dodon stated in an interview for Radio Free Europe. Referring to the dissolution of Parliament and the ‘law of the US$1 billion’, the President said the issues related to internal policy should be proposed for a referendum, IPN reports.
As regards the idea of renegotiating the Association Agreement in a trilateral format – Russia, EU and Moldova – on which he insists, Igor Dodon said the EU and Russia fight geopolitically and the Moldovan citizens are affected. “I told them clearly: “You, between you, the EU and the Russian Federation, have mutual sanctions. Why should such a small country like the Republic of Moldova suffer because of geopolitical struggles?”. My idea is very simple. Brussels, Moscow and Chisinau should sit at the negotiating table and clarify things,” stated the President, adding that the message was heard in Brussels and in Moscow too. He expressed his optimism about the identification of a solution, saying trilateral discussions will be held next year, if not this year.
Asked if Moldova has a future without European funds, Igor Dodon said Moldova will not have a future if it does not cooperate with all the countries, especially with the important geopolitical forces. Moldova does not have a future without cooperation with the East and the West as well. That’s why Moldova should cooperate with the Russian Federation and with Brussels too as well as with Bucharest and Kyiv as there is no other solution.
As to Moldova’s debt for gas, the Head of State said he heard uninspired statements saying that Moldova will pay for the gas debts of the Transnistrian region. “This is not true,” said Igor Dodon, noting that the debts belong to the company with state capital Moldovagaz, of which Gazprom is a majority shareholder. When journalist Valentina Ursu said Gazprom rejected Prime Minister Pavel Filip’s request to transfer Transnistria’s gas debt of US$6.5 billion to the Transnistrian authorities, Igor Dodon said Gazprom never insisted that the official Chisinau should pay for the debts of the Transnistrian consumers.
As to the statements about early legislative elections, Igor Dodon said he hasn’t given up this idea. “I do not rule out the possibility that a referendum on amending the Constitution to give more powers to the Head of State will be held. But we will see. At the end of February or the start of March, I will initiate this amendment, as I promised to. The goal is to obtain early parliamentary elections,” stated the President.
