“By signing the Association Agreement with the EU, Moldova committed suicide,” the chairman of the Party of Socialists Igor Dodon stated in a roundtable meeting of the Club “Izborsk” in Moscow, which centered on the negative consequences of the European integration for the countries of the former Soviet Union, IPN reports, quoting a press release of the PSRM.
According to the Socialist leader, by signing this accord, Moldova voluntarily constrained its economy, becoming an ordinary patient in the waiting room of Brussels functionaries.
“This is uncompelled economic suicide. The path followed by the Republic of Moldova during over six years cannot be named in a different way. The Moldovan authorities cynically, and even fanatically, lead the country to where there is neither economic development nor demographic stability and social cohesion. The European integration promises nothing good for my country. However, the pro-Western politicians from Chisinau gained political and financial benefits by promoting this option,” said Igor Dodon.
The Socialist MP noted that when the Agreement with the EU was signed, the option of the majority of Moldovans, who were against the signing and for integration into the Eurasian Economic Union, was ignored. But the results of the two years of European association are negative. “Instead of the projected growth of tens of times in Moldova’s exports to the EU, these have decreased. In 2016, the economic situation continues to worsen. During the first four months of this year, exports declined by 7%. Exports to the EU decreased considerably (there was an increase of 0.3%, but we now have minus 10%). At the same time, Moldova’s exports to Russia in 2015 diminished by 40% without obtaining something comparable on the EU market,” stated the leader of the PSRM.
According to him, the orientation to the markets of the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, first of all of Russia, corresponds to the objectives of Moldova’s economy the best. “The Russian Federation was and remains out main strategic partner. Besides being a market for selling Moldovan products, Russia is the only supplier of natural gas to Moldova. Like it or not, but there will be no other energy suppliers for Moldova in the immediate future. Russia is also the main guarantor of the Transnistrian conflict settlement and of the country’s reunification,” stated Igor Dodon.
He noted that the PSRM is for holding a referendum on Moldova’s geopolitical course that should involve the residents of Transnistria too. The PSRM seeks the immediate revision of the provisions of the Free Trade Agreement with the EU in trilateral format - Moldova, the EU and Russia – but renouncing this accord would be the best variant. Moldova’s interest resides not in the entry into the EU, but in the establishment of relations of friendship and cooperation with the EU member states, developing simultaneously a close partnership with Russia.
