Members of the National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civic Society Forum strongly condemn Russia’s aggression, the violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine and of the norms of international law. The war cannot be a means for solving international disputes and should be stopped, as a statement of the Platform says.
“We request the Russian Federation to immediately stop the military operations without preconditions and to withdraw the armed forces from the territory of Ukraine. We call on the international community to urgently take the actions stipulated by the international law norms so as to immediately end Russia’s aggression against Ukraine with the involvement of Belarus and to return to the peaceful settlement of the conflict. The international community’s response should include discouraging measures and sanctions against the aggressor state and also support for the Ukrainian authorities,” Adrian Lupușor, national facilitator of the Platform, stated in a news conference at IPN.
The members of the Platform make common cause with the people of Ukraine and welcome the composure shown by the Ukrainian authorities and their readiness to look for diplomatic solutions. They call on the UN, OSCE, the Council of Europe, NATO, the EU and its member states, the U.S., Turkey, the UK, Canada, Switzerland and other partner states to offer immediate assistance to the Republic of Moldova in managing the humanitarian crisis situation and in monitoring the security situation.
“We call on the authorities of the Republic of Moldova to continuously inform the population about the measures taken at national level in connection with the announced state of emergency. We encourage the authorities of the Republic of Moldova to promptly take measures to secure the information space of the Republic of Moldova, including by limiting the Kremlin’s propaganda and disinformation and its instruments of influence in the Republic of Moldova. We request the media outlets in the Republic of Moldova to refrain from the distribution of propaganda, fake news, to fight disinformation and to correctly and responsibly report on the crisis in the region, using official sources of information,” stated Adrian Lupușor.
The members of the National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civic Society Forum call on the citizens of the Republic of Moldova and all the political forces to show unity, cohesion, solidarity, calmness and responsibility in this exceptional situation in the region and in the Republic of Moldova. “We express our readiness to offer the necessary assistance and expertise to our national authorities in their efforts to manage the exceptional situation in cooperation with the development partners of the Republic of Moldova,” said the national facilitator of the Platform.
Valeriu Pașa, a member of WatchDog.MD Community, called on the people to remain calm. He said there is no room for politics and debates now. The people should be united, should follow and do what the Moldovan authorities tell them and should not believe fake news.
Igor Boțan, executive director of the Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT, said that in these times of crisis, everyone realizes that a new, very dangerous phase started at 5am this morning, caused by Russia’s aggression against the Ukrainian nation. “Under such circumstances, given that the situation is difficult, I call on all the citizens, individuals and the community in general, to make common cause inside the country and with the people of Ukrainian,” stated Igor Boțan.
The National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civic Society Forum consists of about 100 nongovernmental organizations.
