The relations between Moldova and the Unites States are affected by the absence of an ambassador in Washington. After Igor Munteanu left the post in 2015, this has been vacant for over two years, ex-deputy minister of foreign affairs Andrei Popov, now director of the Institute for Strategic Initiatives, was quoted by Radio Free Europe as saying.

Andrei Popov reminded that since the summer of 2015 until May 2017, Moldova hadn’t had an ambassador in Washington. Last May the post was occupied by Aureliu Ciocoi, but this was recalled two months later without plausible explanations. Andrei Popov suspects they simply needed to free the place for someone else. “We will see who is named, but the fact that we haven’t had an ambassador in Washington for almost two years and a half is not at all good and does no good to the image of the Republic of Moldova in the United States or to our interests. It is impossible to replace the work of a diplomatic mission and mission head by lobbying activities, no matter how expensive they are, as these work on different dimensions,” stated Andrei Popov, being quoted by IPN.

The ex-deputy minister noted that Moldova’s interests cannot be promoted in the absence of an ambassador in Washington. “We have a charge d’affaires who is skillful, charming and experimented, but he does not have the possibilities enjoyed by a mission head. It is very important to follow the nomination, who will be named to this post,” stated Andrei Popov.

The diplomat said the absence of an ambassador in Washington diminishes the prestige of the diplomatic service. People with experience of seven-ten years started again to leave the service. It is important to restore the practice that was rather successfully used seven-eight years ago – to nominate persons from the diplomatic service as mission heads, not people selected according to political criteria.