To reform the Moldovan-Russian relations, President-elect Maia Sandu should agree an agenda of priorities in the dialogue with the Russian Federation and should be consistent in promoting this. She should also ensure the observance of the national interests of the Republic of Moldova, including by the proper management of the social and economic problems faced by the country’s citizens. These are a part of the recommendations formulated by expert Mihai Mogîldea, team leader at the Institute for European Policies and Reforms, in IPN’s public debate “Reforming of Moldovan-Russian relations after presidential elections: problems, solutions, priorities”.

The expert noted that the President-elect should ensure Moldova’s energy independence as soon as possible by using the opportunities of energy interaction with the European market. The future President should clearly explain to the public in Moldova and to the Russian officials that the economic relations and the political dialogue with the EU do not limit somehow the potential of economic cooperation with the Russian Federation. Also, Maia Sandu should take measures to fight Russia’s misinformation and actions in this field, by which this country wants to change particular positions, perceptions of the Moldovan public of priority problems faced by it.

As to the exchange of replies between Maia Sandu and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia over the withdrawal of the Russian troops form the Transnistrian region, Mihai Mogîldea said this fact shows that there is potential and very big chances for the Moldovan President’s approach to the relations with the Russian Federation to eliminate that lack of respect and dignity to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova. A consolidated position aimed at realizing the potential of cooperation with the Russian Federation, in close cooperation with the national interests and by utilizing the existing opportunities, should exist at the level of the presidential administration and the Government. It goes to the bilateral trade, the dialogue in the energy sector as these are problems of major importance for Moldova at present.

The expert noted that the political component of the bilateral relations is the screen behind which all the other areas of cooperation are discussed. The current problems form the political agenda, related to the commercial relations, society and multilateral cooperation with the Russian Federation, incorporate the social component, including the problems encountered by the Moldovans working abroad.

Mihai Mogîldea said that since 2016, when Igor Dodon was elected President, at declarative level this has tried to present the Moldovan-Russian relationship as a reformed one, with multiple meetings, with participation in different formats of discussion. “If we look strictly at the results, we can see that a lot of things didn’t change. The economic problems from the agenda are at the same stage as in 2016, with functional bans in some of the sectors of the economy,” stated the expert.

He considers Moldova’s maneuvering margin in the bilateral relations is the one that the country is ready to assume. As long as you go to Moscow with the bent head and present yourself as a vassal of that regime, you will be treated at negotiations in this way. In Moldova, as in other CIS states, Russia has a rather big influence on the political developments in the country and also on society and it is very important for Moldova to have a consistent agenda in this bilateral relationship and to keep its positions on key problems. “If we don’t behave consistently in this relationship with the Russian Federation and don’t abide by an agenda where the national interests prevail, we cannot speak about a balance in the negotiation process. During the past few years, we have seen a President whose position is controlled by the Kremlin and this only affects the efficiency and consolidation of the dialogue with the Russian Federation on key problems and their solving,” stated Mihai Mogîldea.

The public debate “Reforming of Moldovan-Russian relations after presidential elections: problems, solutions, priorities” was the 161st installment of the series “Developing political culture through public debates” that is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation.