“The evolution of political processes in the Republic of Moldova cardinally depends on the evolution of the situation in the region. Currently, the easing of the explosive situation in the region depends on the decisions of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin. Given the PSRM’s pleading in favor of the integration of the Republic of Moldova into the Eurasian Union, in which Russia dominates, so as to clarify the Republic of Moldova’s perspectives, it is opportune to paraphrase the determinist concept of President Putin: like it or not, but the country will rebuild itself, with the assistance of Romania or as part of this...”
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Occasion for optimism for some and for concern for others
The joint meeting of the Governments of the Republic of Moldova and Romania of February 11, 2022 turned out to be encouraging for the citizens with pro-European and pro-Romanian views, especially because it took place amid the dramatic deterioration of regional security. The given event is a confirmation of the development of the strategic partnership aimed at increasing bilateral cooperation in different areas of major interest, for the benefit of the citizens from both sides of the Prut. An occasion for optimism is also the fact that even if the governments change, the strategic partnership proves its continuity. In this regard, it should be noted that the joint meeting of the governments of February 11 falls under the logic of the signing of the roadmap concerning the priority areas of cooperation between the Republic of Moldova and Romania of November 23, 2021.
For a segment of society, the intensification of the Moldovan-Romanian strategic relations inspires optimism, but for the exponents of the Eurasian current, this cooperation generates concern. In this regard, the main opposition party – the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM) – issued a statement concerning the necessity of strengthening the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova, expressing its fears and hopes, as it follows:
- unionist aspirations in the Republic of Moldova continue to grow;
- the strategy of the current regime in Chisinau is to take our country to failure so as to ultimately announce that the Republic of Moldova should joint Romania, which is a NATO member state;
- PSRM urges to respect the Constitution and the right of the Moldovan people to live in their sovereign and independent country.
PSRM is somehow right. It’s true that recent opinion polls show that the number of Moldovans who plead for the union increased impetuously. What PSRM does not say is that while the leader of PSRM Igor Dodon held office of President, the percentage of the unionists grew at least twice – from about 15% to approximately 40%. It was opportune to wonder why it happened so.
In the given context, it is regrettable that PSRM pretends not to realize that in the joint meeting Romania came with €100 million in non-reimbursable financial assistance for the Republic of Moldova so as to help it, not to make it fail. For a long period, Romania has been the main commercial partner of the Republic of Moldova, exports to Romania being at least twice higher than those to Russia, which has constantly imposed a ban on Moldovan products. This is the reason why the number of unionists grows – Romania helps, while Russia punishes.
If Romania had had the intentions mentioned by PSRM, it won’t have helped the Republic of Moldova, but would have acted as the Federal Republic of Germany acted in 1990 with regard to the German Democratic Republic – promised a loan of 2 billion marks and then changed its mind in order not to delay the union that was supported by practically all the German citizens from both of the states. Furthermore, the reunification of Germany had been agreed with the great powers that emerged victorious in World War II – the U.S., the USSR, the UK and France.
The two mentioned conditions are decisive for the eventual union to be successful, which is not to be post-factum challenged through revolts inside the reunited state and not to be challenged by the international community too. In this regard, PSRM has the successful example of the reunification of Germany and the conflict example that led to the undermining of regional security after Russia annexed Crimea, using the little green men.
Where do real dangers come from?
Before getting scared, PSRM should determine who generates real dangers for the Republic of Moldova and the states of the region. If it does it, it will realize that reasons for concern persist indeed, but these are generated not by the joint meeting of the Governments of the Republic of Moldova and Romania, but by Russia’s strategy for destabilizing the states of the region, for mobilizing its troops on the border with Ukraine. The danger is real as, in such circumstances, a banal incident is needed, as it happened in 1914, after which a series of events followed, to which the tsarist empire reacted by general mobilization for getting ready for war. The German empire responded in a similar way until the whole world found itself engaged in World War I. In conditions of war, which is in a very special situation, and after the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, Bessarabia united with Romania and that union was absolutely legitimate as the powers of the People’s Council didn’t differ from those of the Petrograd Soviet.
We have something similar now. Russia annexed a part of the territory of Ukraine and provoked an armed conflict in Donbas, violating the norms of the international law after assuring Ukraine, alongside the U.S. and the UK, that its security would be guaranteed. The last two states now have to fulfill their obligations and to help Ukraine before the danger of the Russian invasion. This is how we found ourselves on the edge of a precipice, of an eventual regional war that can degenerate into a global confrontation. Normally, namely such things should serve as a reason for concern for PSRM and the whole political class of the Republic of Moldova. Paradoxically, PSRM is preoccupied not with the causes of the potential disaster, but with the eventual consequences of this – the Republic of Moldova’s union with Romania.
Conclusions
The evolution of political processes in the Republic of Moldova cardinally depends on the evolution of the situation in the region. Currently, the easing of the explosive situation in the region depends on the decisions of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin. Given the PSRM’s pleading in favor of the integration of the Republic of Moldova into the Eurasian Union, in which Russia dominates, so as to clarify the Republic of Moldova’s perspectives, it is opportune to paraphrase the determinist concept of President Putin: like it or not, but the country will rebuild itself, with the assistance of Romania or as part of this.