The Republic of Moldova has chances to strengthen its defense sector and to resolve the Transnistrian dispute if it develops the bilateral relations with the EU member states and with NATO, ex-minister of defense Viorel Cibotaru, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova, stated in the program “Emphasis on today” on TVR Moldova channel, IPN reports.

The former minister said NATO plays a key role in the process of consolidating national security from political, logistic and operational viewpoints. But the country’s defense and the national security level cannot be strengthened without raising the people’s awareness of the role of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. “This would enable us to realize that we also contribute to the national security and international defense of which we are responsible according to the documents to join the UN, other security and cooperation organizations of Europe and the Council of Europe that we signed,” stated Viorel Cibotaru.

He noted that Moldova cannot dally the consolidation of the own defense system, which is a fundamental responsibility of the state, and simultaneously extend endlessly the anti-national interpretation of the neutrality concept that is a sell-isolating one. “Everything was done for the Republic of Moldova to stay away from Romania and the advanced EU states and this thing should be overcome by political will, patriotism, abnegation, work and struggle,” stated the Liberal-Democratic leader.

Security expert Rosian Vasiloi said NATO can offer a state as much as this needs. He noted that Moldova wants a partnership with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization because it does not have documents and policies in the security and defense sector that would be accepted and ready for implementation. “We do not have either a national security strategy or a national defense strategy. We have no other sector strategies,” he stated.