The participation in military exercises and training by the National Army is compatible with the status of neutrality of the Republic of Moldova, director of the Center for Conflict Prevention and Early Warning Iulian Chifu stated in the program “Emphasis on today” on TVR Moldova channel, IPN reports.

According to the foreign policy expert, there is no incompatibility between the neutrality status and the participation in military exercises. On the contrary, a neutral state protects itself with the own forces and does not sign international alliance agreements that would protect it and would stipulate commitments.

As to the blocking by President Igor Dodon of the participation by Moldovan service members in military exercises in Ukraine, Iulian Chifu said the President and his advisers should know that the army’s preparation for defense, the security and foreign policy aspects are within the President’s remit. “They should know that the President’s blocking actions do nothing but push him to an area where, legally speaking, Igor Dodon can be accused of treason, violation of powers and of other aspects of the Penal Code that can lead to less advantageous postures,” he stated.

“Evidently, nobody enters such a game. Everyone knows that Igor Dodon assumes such a position in order to cultivate excessively, even ostensibly, the posture of pro-Russian President, that he is in an continuous campaign that knows no limits and he not only tries to extend his powers, but also does not carry out those stipulated in the Constitution,” stated Iulian Chifu.

According to him, the parliamentary alliance and the executive should balance out the situation and find legal-normative solutions in relation to the Constitutional Court so as to make Igor Dodon to fulfill his duties.