Given the situation in the neighboring country, which is facing a political, economic and military crisis, the Moldovan-Ukrainian relations should be reviewed and even re-formed. The Moldovan authorities should learn the lessons experience by Ukraine so as not to allow a similar scenario to happen in Moldova. The issue was developed by the participants in the debate “Moldovan-Ukrainian relations in new geopolitical and regional security conditions”, staged by IPN News Agency in partnership with Radio Moldova.
Ukrainian Ambassador to Moldova Serhii Pyrozhkov said the Moldovan-Ukrainian relations in the new international realities must be re-formed. “Ukraine and Moldova are to sign the Association Agreement with the EU. Both of the states chose the European course as their foreign policy vector. This is a reality that must be emphasized and that will enable us to strengthen the relations. Ukraine found itself in a difficult situation. It was subject to military aggression and its territories were annexed. This should also serve as a reason for reviewing the bilateral relations. I think the international security system should also be reviewed. The created situation showed that the current system must not only be repaired, but also seriously reviewed with the involvement of the international community,” said the diplomat.
Head of the Institute for Political Analysis and Consultancy “Politicon” Anatol Taranu also considers that the bilateral relations should be re-formed given the crisis in Ukraine. “Moldova is situated in the immediate vicinity of a crisis zone and it should adjust its foreign policy. Ukraine is an important partner. It is our neighbor and it plays an important role in the Transnistrian conflict settlement. Moldova must take the regional changes into account. A place should be found in a new security system. This would be the key element in the re-formation of the relations,” said the expert. He added that the most important thing is to identify a new form of cooperation. He believes that the relations already started to be re-formed.
Executive director of the Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT Igor Botan said that the relations between the two states over the last ten years were positive and developed continuously. “Now Moldova and Ukraine have common economic partners and, regretfully, a common center of provocations. The two countries never intended to stop cooperating within the CIS. They only oriented themselves to the EU. Provocations appeared when Ukraine was to sign the Association Agreement with the EU and Moldova was to initial it. The bilateral relations should be fostered and extended in such situations,” he stated.
The debate “Moldovan-Ukrainian relations in new geopolitical and regional security conditions” is the 31st of the series of debates “Development of political culture in public debates” that are organized by IPN in concert Radio Moldova and with the support of the Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany.
