"They are absolutely unacceptable". MFAEI reacts to Chinese ambassador's statements denying sovereignty of former Soviet countries
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (MFAEI) reacts to statements by China's ambassador to the French Republic, who questioned the sovereignty of countries that declared their independence in 1991.
The institution in Chisinau expresses its concern and states that the "remarks" of the Chinese diplomat in France "are absolutely unacceptable".
"Over the past three decades since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Republic of Moldova and the People's Republic of China have built their bilateral relations on mutual respect and support for sovereignty and territorial integrity. The remarks of the Chinese ambassador to France are absolutely unacceptable. We are waiting for the Chinese authorities to clarify their official position," said Igor Zaharov, communication advisor to the Foreign Minister.
The statement was also criticised by MEP Siegfried Muresan who said "we must stand united with our allies in the free world".
"Only together with the US and other partners with consolidated democracies can we find solutions to help Ukraine, Moldova and other countries that want to escape the threat of the Russian Federation", said the MEP.
Nearly 80 MEPs called on French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna to declare Chinese Ambassador Lu Chaye persona non grata.
The corresponding appeal was published by the newspaper "Le Monde". MEPs say the Chinese diplomat's statements violate international law and should be seen as a threat to the security of France's European partner countries.
France and the Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania expressed dismay after China's ambassador to Paris questioned the sovereignty of former Soviet countries. In an interview broadcast on French TV on Friday, the Chinese ambassador said that historically Crimea is part of Russia and was given to Ukraine by former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.
Furthermore, the diplomat said that the states of the former Soviet Union have no status under current international law, as "there is no international agreement specifying their status as sovereign countries".
