Igor Dodon, the Socialist candidate who won the presidential elections, is aware that the citizens of the Republic of Moldova and Romania are a nation and have common roots. He developed the issue in an interview for TVR channel, IPN reports.

“I’m not and never was anti-Romania, but I’m anti-unionism. Yes, we have common historical roots and are brothers, but we should each stay at home. I love the Romanians as our neighbors and friends, but they should not infringe on Moldova’s statehood. We have projects with Romania that should be continued, including those from the energy sector,” stated Dodon.

He reiterated that the first visit he will make after he is inaugurated President will be to Moscow, the second to Brussels, while the third to Bucharest. “I chose to go there where I can solve the most serious problems of the people. We must restore the economic relations with Russia so that the Moldovan business entities could export to the Russian market. Afterward, I will go to Brussels. It’s not excluded that we will have trilateral negotiations so as to unblock the economic relations with Russia,” said the President-elect.

Dodon also said that he will not denounce the Association Agreement with the EU. “The President does not have the power to denounce the accord. We should use the EU’s experience to develop our country,” he noted.

Igor Dodon also said that the Russian troops deployed in Transnistria must be withdrawn, but after the Transnistrian conflict is solved politically. “I’m for the neutrality of the Republic of Moldova and this means that all the foreign troops must be pulled out, no matter what country they represent. But the peacekeeping troops should be preserved so as to politically resolve the dispute. I expect this will happen in the near future,” he stated.