The Moldovan authorities intend to step up the political dialogue and practical cooperation with the North Atlantic Alliance. Moldova is interested in taking the possibilities offered by NATO to the partner states within different cooperation programs and instruments. The objective is to benefit from the Alliance’s advanced expertise and experience in different areas. The prospects of Moldova’s partnership with NATO were presented by secretary general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ruslan Bolbocean in a press briefing that centered on the results of the NATO Vilnius Summit, IPN reports.
The official said the fact that Moldova was invited to the NATO Summit points to the importance attached by the Alliance to its partnership with the Republic of Moldova and to the country’s security. Russia’s war against Ukraine seriously affects each aspect of Moldova’s security. Therefore, the Western states’ response to Russia’s aggression is very important. The NATO Vilnius Summit devoted increased attention to security in Eastern Europe, the counteracting of Russia’s aggressive policy, the restoration of rules-based international order, offering of political support and practical assistance to the partner states from the East for increasing the security and defense capabilities and building resilience and this is important. By the decisions taken at the Summit in Vilnius, the NATO countries offered their response to Russia’s war against Ukraine and, in particular, reaffirmed their solidarity with the authorities and the people of Ukraine.
Ruslan Bolbocean said the importance of the Summit resides in the fact that by the taken decisions, the NATO countries transmitted clear messages, showing that they will continue defending the rules-based international order, the principles of the UN Charter, such values as democracy, freedom, the rule of law, and the observance of human rights. The NATO countries said that they do not recognize the new borders on the European continent. The adopted decisions bring Ukraine closer to the objective of joining NATO and they are very important for Ukraine’s future and also for regional security and the Republic of Moldova, which is directly affected by the developments in the region.
Poland’s Ambassador in Chisinau Tomasz Kobzdej in the same news conference said the war against Ukraine was the main theme of the Summit, but all the NATO member countries realize that any other country in the region can become the target of the pressure exerted by Russia. Moldova is also seriously affected by this. Poland fully supports Moldova’s European aspirations and the country’s cooperation with NATO.
The Head of the NATO Liaison Office in the Republic of Moldova Michaela Šimáková said the Republic of Moldova is a partner of the Alliance in the long run. Moldova makes its own contribution to security and takes part in different regional security issues. NATO strongly supports Moldova’s European integration and continues to support the transformation and modernization of the country together with other international partners.
In a joint statement issued at the Vilnius Summit, NATO reiterates its support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova within its internationally recognized borders and calls on Russia to withdraw all of its forces stationed in the Transnistrian region without Moldova’s consent. The NATO Allies said they will continue to provide practical assistance through the enhanced Defense Capacity Building Package, as Moldova works to strengthen its security and defense capabilities and modernize its Armed Forces.
