PNTCD says Romanian should provide greater support to Moldova in democratic and integration processes

“Romania is obligated to support Moldova on the path to European integration and achievement of the European standards,” Radu Sarbu, the president of the Christian Democratic National Peasant's Party of Romania (PNTCD), said in a news conference held at Info-Prim Neo News Agency. Radu Sarbu said that he and his party colleagues are dissatisfied with the steps taken by the Romanian Government so far. He mentioned several directions that the Government and politicians in Romania must focus on, including the issue of citizenship. “Article 7 of the Constitution of Romania says that a Romanian can lose the nationality when it is withdrawn or at request. The Romanians in Bessarabia have never asked that their nationality be withdrawn. Therefore, we consider that there should be adopted a law allowing all the persons born in Bessarabia, as part of the Great Romania, and their successors to regain the Romanian nationality,” Radu Sarbu said. He also said that the persons who settled in Bessarabia later could also apply for Romanian nationality, but will not obtain it automatically. Radu Sarbu also said that the Romanian businessmen working in Moldova are not encouraged by the politicians. “We convinced ourselves that the Romanians have a wrong impression of Moldova and the situation and problems here and that they failed to meet the economic expectations of their Bessarabian brothers. The Romanian investors must come to Moldova and establish economic ties here as the people get closer when they do something together,” the Romanian politician said. As to the political situation, Radu Sarbu said: “The parties that formed the Alliance for European Integration have different opinions as regards the path that they must follow. I do not want to judge them because politics is the art of possibility. But it is good that they are unanimous in their wish to join the EU.” According to Sarbu, the fact that the Moldovan people want to become part of the EU is favorable. The integration into the EU would mean the fulfillment of the Bessarabians' dream to be near their Romanian brothers. But the reforms that will help fulfill this dream are not always popular and imply costs. However, they must be implemented. In another development, the Romanian politician said that they will ask the Romanian authorities to increase the role of the Embassy of Romania in Chisinau. When there was an ambassador, the Embassy had 16 employees, while the Russian Embassy has 1,200 employees. The Christian Democratic National Peasant's Party of Romania was founded more than 150 years ago. During the last eight years, it has been an extra-parliamentary party, but has had great influence on the country's political life. In the coming presidential elections, the party will support the National Liberal Party's candidate Crin Antonescu.