MAE condemns anti-Romania statements made by President Voronin in Moscow

The European Action Movement (MAE) condemns the anti-Romania statements made by President Vladimir Voronin during his recent visit to Moscow, Info-Prim Neo reports. At a news conference on Wednesday, January 23, the president of the movement, Anatol Petrencu, presented MAE’s Declaration denouncing the anti-Romania policy promoted by President Voronin. In response to Voronin’s statements about the foundation of the Bessarabian Metropolitan Church being a component part of Romania’s aggressive policy against the sovereign Moldova and about the Romanian Patriarchate refusing to recognise Moldova as an independent state, Petrencu reminded an apparently forgetful Voronin that Romania was the first country to recognise Moldova’s sovereignty, and the existence of the Romanian Embassy in Chisinau is the best proof of that. Anatol Petrencu believes Voronin was encouraged in Moscow into continuing his anti-Romania course by being rewarded with the highest distinction of the Russian Church, specifically for such actions as expelling two priests and a nun and opposing the reactivation of three dioceses of the Bessarabian Metropolitan Church on Moldova’s territory. The vice president of MAE, Cahul-born Ion Neagu, said it is not at all accidental that the expelled priests were from his native district, where the Bessarabian Metropolitan Church has an extensive coverage. The MAE leaders went on to denounce the expulsion of two Romanian diplomats, the disruption of TVR1 broadcasts in Moldova, the ban on dual citizenship holders from public offices, the restrictions on when to celebrate Christmas, and the statements about the need to change the national symbols, all of them being labelled as xenophobic acts which are out of line with the European spirit and good neighbour principles. MAE asserts that Voronin doesn’t represent the interests and the will of the citizens of the country he leads, but the position of an antinational and anti-European clan which came to power accidentally. “We believe that Romania, as a EU member state, with which we share the same historical, national, cultural and spiritual roots, is the best advocate for our aspiration to join the united family of civilised European countries”, the MAE Declaration reads. MAE announces it will resort to open protests against the current government and will seek assistance from the international community if the Communist authorities of Moldova preserve their xenophobic attitude. In its cause, MAE counts on the support of the members of the Bessarabian Church’s parishes, laic organisations behind them, and remains open to cooperation with all the political parties sharing the pro-European course.