Russia tries to stop Moldova'\s EU bid, says PM
Moldova's Prime Minister Dorin Recean has accused Russia of trying to stop the country's bid to join the European Union.
In an interview with Vocea Basarabiei, Recean said that Russia has always wanted Moldova to be in its sphere of influence in order to influence the country's foreign policy.
He also said that Russia is desperate to stop Moldova's EU accession process.
"As long as Russia cannot ensure prosperity at home, it tries to stop others, such as Moldova, from the process of improving the well-being of every citizen," Recean said. "That's what they're afraid of, that we will live like in Europe. They want to keep countries like Moldova, with frozen conflicts, with various problems and hybrid challenges, so that we cannot progress."
Recean also said that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has further damaged relations between the two countries.
"How can you have a relationship with an aggressor?" he asked. "Russia is killing people, women, and the elderly in Ukraine."
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on October 5 recommending that the EU start accession negotiations with Moldova by the end of 2023. The resolution also called for the permanent liberalisation of trade with the EU and Moldova's integration into the single market before the end of the accession negotiations.
Euro-parliamentarian Siegfried Mureșan said in an interview with Radio Moldova that Moldova has a good chance of starting accession negotiations with the EU by the end of this year.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
