The national defense strategy and the plan of action for implementing this for 2018-2021 were adopted in the July 19 sitting of Parliament. The Socialist MPs criticized the bill, saying this does not match the declared goals, is non-professional and represents a political challenge, IPN reports.
Minister of Defense Eugeniu Sturza said the national defense strategy is a measure that first of all reflects the effort to strategically adjust Moldova to the regional and international security challenges. The strategy is a policy document that defines the method of fulfilling the tasks to ensure national defense by the state institutions. It envisions the consolidation, development and modernization of the national defense system in accordance with the national interests and describes the current security situations with the possible risks and threats to defense, the political defense objectives and ways of achieving these.
Eugeniu Sturza noted the strategy was drafted based on a participatory approach by involving all the national players that were directly or tangentially took covered by the national defense system reform. The strategy will be implemented in stages, depending on the budget allocations.
This provides that the permanent neutrality status of Moldova implies non-participation in armed conflicts, while in times of peace – the construction of good neighborhood relations with all the international partners, based on mutual respect and consensus. The deterioration of the relations between Russia and the West creates a state of instability that generates or favors the proliferation of new risks and threats in the region.
“In such conditions, the Republic of Moldova appreciates the experience of cooperation between the European Union, the Russian Federation and the Unites States in problems related to the Transnistrian settlement. In this connection, following the progress made in the Transnistrian settlement process, a real perspective to transform the current peacekeeping force on the Nistru into an internationally mandated civil mission appears. At the same time, the Republic of Moldova will continue to maintain an open and transparent dialogue so as to identify solutions for the Operational Group of Russian Forces to be withdrawn and the ammunition stockpiles from Moldova’s territory to be destroyed or taken away. This will contribute to strengthening the neutrality status of the Republic of Moldova and to its international recognition,” says the draft strategy.
In his speech, Socialist MP Gennady Mitriuc said the draft strategy does not match the declared goals and is unrealistic and without a content. This is a new declaration of the parliamentary majority that presents its anti-Russia position. Moreover, the draft is adopted by violating the conception requirements of the legislation on defense. The MP urged to withdraw the bill, describing this as a scarecrow, and to work out a strategy without a political color.
The leader of the Democratic parliamentary group Marian Lupu said Moldova’s neutrality status that is enshrined in the country’s Constitution is the central point of this document. The measures stipulated in this document will help strengthen this key status in this strategic approach.
The Communist leader Vladimir Voronin noted the draft strategy should include the notion of “demilitarization”. Given the neutrality status of the Republic of Moldova, the country should be further demilitarized. It will be this easier to resolve the Transnistrian issue as the demilitarization would cover both sides of the Nistru.
The implementation of the strategy and the made progress will be monitored by Parliament, the President and the Government by engaging the Parliament’s commission on national security, defense and public order, the Supreme Security Council and the State Chancellery.