The credibility of the Republic of Moldova abroad decreases as long as the government is distrusted, while the reforms are simulated. In the recent past, the country’s diplomatic service has concentrated a lot on the attraction of investments for doing reforms and ignored national security, executive director of the Foreign Policy Association (APE) Victor Chirila stated in a press club meeting at IPN News Agency.
The expert said the credibility of the foreign policy depends a lot on what is going on in the country. “The credibility of our country continues to decline as long as there is distrust in the government, while the reforms are stagnant or are simulated by the authorities. The foreign policy cannot be dissociated from the internal policy. If the internal policy is bad, the foreign policy is also inefficient, no matter how good our diplomats are,” he stated.
Victor Chirila noted that the diplomatic service of Moldova focused too much on the attraction of investments for reforms and ignored the country’s security. But the mission of the diplomatic service is to ensure a favorable external climate for strengthening national security, while Moldova’s national security is very frail.
According to the APE director, the path of European integration will be long for Moldova. That’s why the foreign policy should be balanced and the necessary reforms should be done. “The European integration will be convincing for Brussels and other European capitals when the Republic of Moldova creates a common energy area, economic-commercial area and communication area with the European Union,” he stated, adding that investment opportunities should be created for all the states that will contribute to strengthening the rule of law in Moldova.
Victor Chirila said that Moldova’s foreign policy was seriously affected in 2015 and a new conception is needed in this area. The Moldovan diplomatic service now pursues the foreign policy objectives set in the Government’s work program, but this program cannot substitute the role of a foreign policy conception because it is limited in time and is usually based on the programs of the ruling parties.
The APE director also said that to think up a new conception, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration should suggest setting up a working group consisting of diplomats and MPs of the commission on foreign policy and European integration and of civil society experts. This group should initiate debates and then submit proposals for a new strategy.
