The Russian Federation will toughen up the relations with Moldova in order to hamper the country’s European integration process. According to the leader of the Liberal Reforming Party Ion Hadarca, such warnings were given by representatives of the European Union, who, in this situation, urged Moldova to be prudent and perseverant.
In a news conference at IPN, Ion Hadarca said that Russia has a number of instruments that have been lately used to obstruct the European integration process in the region: “from economic disputes with Ukraine and Belarus to threats to stop the supply of gas to Moldova and to recognize Transnistria”.
The head of the Parliament’s commission on foreign policy and European integration Ana Gutu said that a number of European officials, including representatives of European organizations in Chisinau, warned that Russia will launch more challenges, but the extent of these challenges is not known.
MP Valeriu Saharneanu said that the foreign support in such a situation is very important for Moldova. “We are sensitive to what they say about Moldova, but we must understand that attacks are made on all the Eastern Partnership member states. Thus, these countries should show solidarity,” he stated.
The members of the Liberal Reforming Party underlined the reformers’ role in this process and the importance of the European partners’ support now that Russia exerts pressure. They called on the media outlets and the people not to yield to the provocative challenges of the Russian Deputy Prime Minister and to respond by maintaining Moldova’s European vector.
