Expert Igor Boțan said a state should have good relations with all the foreign partners, but when it signs an agreement, the content of this should be analyzed thoroughly so as to see if there are formulations with a double meaning or that can be later interpreted in a way that suits the more powerful partner. The opinion was stated in the public debate “Supporting business community: between economy and politics” that was staged by IPN News Agency.

Igor Boțan noted that a relevant example is the agreement with Russia, on the provision of a €200 million loan. This issue generated debates and controversy between the ruling and opposition politicians. The opposition MPs referred first of all to the Government decision of March 13, which contains three decisions in one. “They should reflect three separate events, not all the events together. Moreover, it is not clear if all the required procedures were performed. The opposition also referred to the dangers deriving from this agreement and this is important as there is a risk that the state will be later forced to pay sums much larger than €200 million,” he stated.

The expert noted there are things that should be taken into account, especially because there are precedents – two agreements signed with Russia and their impact. “One agreement is the Convention of 1992 under which Russia can take measures not to allow blockages between the two sides. What happened in 2006, after the Republican of Moldova signed the action plan with the European Union by which control on Moldova’s border with Ukraine, on the Transnistrian segment, was introduced through the EUBAM Mission? By the agreement of 1992, Russia imposed economic and financial penalties on the Republic of Moldova. This thing should not be neglected, namely the way in which the strategic partner acts when something is not convent to it,” he explained.

Igor Boțan also referred to the CIS Free Trade Agreement of 1994. “The Republic of Moldova signed the CIS Free Trade Agreement on November 18, 2011 and this took effect at the start of 2013. In nine months of its coming into force, in September, Russia imposed commercial sanctions because the Republic of Moldova dared to sign a Free Trade Agreement with the EU. “

He noted that those from the opposition acted correctly and the opposition’s role in the lending agreement with Russia mattered.

The debate “Supporting business community: between economy and politics” was the 130th installment of the series of debates “Developing political culture through public debates” that are supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation.