Third Energy Package will tie Moldova's hands, Dmitry Rogozin

The European Energy Community's Third Energy Package will rather be detrimental to Moldova, stated Russian Deputy Premier Dmitry Rogozin during his visit to Chisinau. “Cooperation in the energy area is difficult, especially since Moldova has engaged in negotiations on the European Union's Third Energy Package. This will tie your hands and you won't be able to act”, Dmitry Rogozin told a press briefing held jointly with Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Valeriu Lazar. Rogozin reiterated Moscow's position that participating in European energy packages was not in Chisinau's interest. “We believe these energy packages are not cost-effective, but you seem to think the opposite. We have experts who demonstrate that this isn't so. There is still plenty of time to talk this over in a professional and responsible manner, to also include lawyers to settle this problem. But trust me, there are more disadvantages than benefits in this participation”, said Rogozin. “We will dedicate the entire next month to reaching common ground on energy issues”, he added. Deputy Prime Minister Valeriu Lazar expressed his optimism as regards economic cooperation between Moldova and Russia, noting that for the first time a provision was included in the protocol of the Moldova-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation that provides for an intensification of investments from both sides. “The most important thing is that we identified access paths to much more ambitious projects with a clear perspective on the regional market. As concerns the priorities for the immediate future, they include consultations on a new energy agreement. We've told our operators and those that transit gas via Moldova that they shouldn't worry about what happens after new year: there will be both gas and electricity”, assured Lazar. Dmitry Rogozin visited Chisinau to participate in the 13th meeting of the Moldova-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, which he co-chairs.