As Russia embargoed Moldovan fruits and canned foods, while imposing customs taxes for other imports, Moldova's best answer would be to implement the EU Association Agreement. It is the only chance for the country to develop and its efficient implementation would boost the foreign partners' trust in Moldova's consistency. The opinion was voiced by representatives of the Democratic Action Party (PAD).
PAD vice president Viorel Chivriga told a press conference at IPN that denouncing the Agreement or not implementing it would mean “to betray the country and the people”, because it would ruin the upcoming generations' chance of a prosperous future. Chivriga blamed the authorities for the current situation in agriculture, as they failed several reforms. He says Moldova lags behind in meeting international standards regarding the quality of agrifood products and that the government didn't bother to ensure alternative markets for Moldovan products.
Mihai Magdei, PAD vice president, explained that Moldova's agricultural troubles date back to the Declaration of Independence, because since then no major measures had been taken to improve the quality of production. He deems necessary a program to improve the culture of local farmers and to change their mentality. Magdei complained that he found few Moldovan fruits in Chisinau supermarkets that met international quality standards.
PAD executive secretary Alexandru Lipcan said that since its independence, Moldova's government lacked purposefulness in reforms, the most important of which were applied with half-measures. He hopes the EU Association Agreement won't share the same fate. Lipcan stressed that the big political parties must propose development models for the country and those that will win the elections on November 30 must be consistent on the path they choose.
PAD representatives insist that the country needs the elimination of the “anti-European” phenomenon, promoted by politicians that mislead society, the rebuttal of myths denigrating the association with the EU, and the involvement of the business and academic communities, as well as civil society in promoting the benefits of good relations with the EU.
PAD politicians also call on society to show solidarity and stress that the Association Agreement doesn't belong only to the governing parties, but to the people, who must benefit from it.
