For the Republic of Moldova, security remains a critical priority and, even if the country is not under direct threat, there are permanent attempts to deviate it from the European path, the executive director of the Institute for European Policies and Reforms Iulian Groza said at the first edition of the Security Forum Moldova. The agenda of the event held in Chisinau discusses the main challenges in the Black Sea region, including for Moldova, as well as the finalization of commitments to protect democracy and strengthen the cross-border partnership, IPN reports.
Iulian Groza noted that neutrality is not enough to face the continuous threat. More and more citizens understand the need to invest in the modern capabilities of the security institutions in order to ensure stability in the country.
"We support a democratic Moldova integrated into the European Union. Democracy and freedom need security in the broadest sense: defense capabilities, social resilience against authoritarian developments, against disinformation and propaganda. Sustainable responses to various risks, such as climate change and inequality, are still needed. For these reasons, we organized the conference," said the head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation Office in the Republic of Moldova Brigitta Triebel.
Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu said that in recent years, Moldova has been the target of unprecedented hybrid attacks, which intensified this autumn in the context of the presidential election and the referendum on European integration. The justice system was not efficient enough to cope with and combat vote theft and corruption, which is why the justice sector reform is vital for national security and for achieving the strategic goal of European integration.
The official also said that it is necessary to modernize and develop the national army, to ensure the necessary living and service conditions for the military. "Our commitment is to ensure a dignified professional and social status for all those who serve the country with devotion. It is in the interest of all Moldovans to have a strong and well-prepared army that can protect the peace, sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country," stated Igor Grosu.
Justin Suni, Acting Head of the NATO Liaison Office in Chisinau, noted that NATO and the allies highly value the partnership with the Republic of Moldova, and that the country's efforts for integration into the European Union were recently recognized in Washington. "We have an ambitious program for the next two days. It is a premiere for the Republic of Moldova and this represents an opportunity to bring together the basic actors in security issues," said Justin Suni.
EU Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova Jānis Mažeiks said that the security of the Republic of Moldova will improve if the country has a less corrupt judiciary, better interconnection with the European Union, so as to succeed in creating a new body for strengthening strategic communication. "From 2021 to 2024, the European Union's support for the armed forces of the Republic of Moldova reached €137 million, making the Republic of Moldova the second largest recipient of support in this regard, and we intend to continue to do so," said the European diplomat, noting that there is no safe Europe without a resilient Moldova.
At the forum held in Chisinau on Tuesday and Wednesday, more than 300 participants, together with dozens of moderators, are expected to discuss NATO partnerships and hybrid threats, identify solutions to accelerate the resilience of the Republic of Moldova, talk about the actions and measures to be taken to support Ukraine and ensure regional stability.
The Moldova Security Forum is organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation Office in the Republic of Moldova, the NATO Liaison Office in the Republic of Moldova and the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE).
