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Briefness first and foremost – October 17, 2018 IPN digest


https://www.ipn.md/en/briefness-first-and-foremost-october-17-2018-ipn-digest-7978_1044757.html

Being asked in a videoconference if the Russian Federation will continue to support the Transnistrian region if the situation concerning the joint control on the Moldovan-Ukrainian border generates particular developments, the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia Maria Zakharova said, referring to our country, that “a sovereign state definitely has the right to apply its own policy, but...” But this should help strengthen the secessionist position of Tiraspol. This results from the opinions stated by the official…

The official considers the Moldovan-Russian relations develop despite the statements that come from Chisinau. “We follow all the processes, analyze them and try to develop complex bilateral relations with this state despite those internal political processes, in parts contradictory,  and those contradictory statements made not only by politicians, who are politicians to do so, but also by senior government officials.”

As the official’s statements run counter to the policies applied in relation to the Republic of Moldova, the IPN Experts logically wonder: who and why makes the Moldovan-Russian relations more difficult? Drawing conclusions on the videoconference that involved Maria Zakharova, we cannot overlook the fact that the dramatic events in Ukraine started in October 2013, after Russia issued warnings as to the imposition of bans on the post-Soviet republics that intended to sign association and free trade agreements with the EU. We can now only deplore the state of degradation of the regional situation that includes Moldova. The regional context worsens dramatically also owing to the schism inside the Orthodox Church caused by the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. In this connection, a question can be put to the Russian authorities – why the UK managed to build a Commonwealth of Nations with the involvement of 53 states, with about 1/3 of the world’s population, while the Russian Federation is on the verge of losing hope that it can ever build what it calls the Russian World? Or this probably happens because it subjects the former Soviet republics to pressure instead of helping them?

Neither the visit paid by the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Moldova is assessed unequivocally by the public opinion. Moreover, political commentator Alexei Tulbure, in the talk show “Expertise hour” on Jurnal TV channel, said the visit marks an important stage in Moldova’s history and has a special significance – the beginning of a “non-European” epoch. Vice president of the Liberal Democratic Party Ion Terguță said central Chisinau will be closed to traffic so as to keep people who would eventually protest against Erdogan’s visit to Moldova away. “This does not suit the authoritarian Turkish leader and also the Moldova authorities that want to show they control the situation,” stated Ion Terguță.

Instead, President Igor Dodon considers Turkey is an example of how the national interests should be defended for Moldova. He put his signature on a declaration on the constitution of the Strategic Cooperation Council between Moldova and Turkey.

In parallel, the National Resistance Movement ACUM protested in front of the Embassy of Turkey in Chisinau, demanding that the teachers of the Lyceum “Orizont” who were expelled from Moldova and jailed in Turkey at the start of this September be set free.

Despite the obstacles placed intentionally on the traditional Eastern markets, Moldova’s exports of fruit and vegetables have grown significantly this year. The identification of new markets is essential, said the director of the National Food Safety Agency Gheorghe Gaberi. The negotiations with Canada on the sale of fresh plums were ended. The negotiations with India, which has a great apple consumption potential, were also closed and the first ten tonnes of products to this country will be delivered in the nearest future. Talks are now being held with such countries as Indonesia and Malaysia.

With optimism, Moldova climbed one spot in the Global Competitiveness Report 2018, taking the 88th position out of 140 states with a score of 55.5 out of 85.6 possible. Moldova has a better score in terms of technological readiness, labor market flexibility, education and training, infrastructure, etc. It got the lowest score for innovational capacity and financial market sophistication level.

Details on IPN!