Maia Sandu wants the reintegration of Transnistria before the Republic of Moldova joins the EU: “We are working in this direction”

The Republic of Moldova intends to reintegrate the separatist region of Transnistria, supported by Russia, before joining the European Union, the President of the Republic Maia Sandu said on Tuesday, while on a state visit to Norway, reports Reuters and Radio Chisinau.

“Our goal and our mission is to prepare the country for joining the European Union by 2030. It would be ideal to have the country reintegrated by then. We’re working on it, but it’s not just up to us. We will do everything possible to achieve reintegration before acceding to the EU, but we must not exclude other possibilities. Our commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict remains as strong”, Maia Sandu said in a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Store, according to Agerpres.

In the same press conference, the head of the Norwegian executive announced that his country offers additional aid to the Republic of Moldova in the amount of 350 million crowns, equivalent to about 30 million euros.

This financial aid is to be used to support the energy and educational sectors, but also to support the democratic process, civil society and good governance.

In their speeches, both the head of government in Oslo and Maia Sandu referred to the unprecedented hybrid war that the Russian Federation is waging throughout Europe, especially in the Republic of Moldova, where it tries to destabilize the political situation and divert the processes democratic, Radio Chisinau broadcasts.

“Important elections are to take place in the Republic of Moldova – presidential, a referendum on European integration, but also parliamentary elections – and we can already see a multitude of hybrid attacks aimed at destabilizing the agenda of these events. A new security threat in Europe, where Russia is pushing all the limits and all the borders. We are with you and with everything that the citizens of the Republic of Moldova are fighting for”, emphasized Jonas Gahr Store.

In recent years, Moscow has resorted to a series of hybrid actions such as energy blackmail, economic pressures, disinformation campaigns, cyber attacks, electoral interference and even attempts to bring down the government, President Maia Sandu mentioned in her turn, thanking on this occasion to the Norwegian people for the support offered in overcoming the crises generated by Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine.

The Republic of Moldova is a territory where Russia tests its “hybrid instruments”, said Maia Sandu, adding that in this way the partners can learn how to counter these Russian attacks. “When partners help us build tools to fight cyber attacks, I can understand how Russia is trying to influence countries. (…) We also know that Russia invests a lot in disinformation, no other country, not even one much richer than Moldova, can cope with the resources that Putin invests. That’s why we need to join forces”, she added.

Answering the journalists’ questions, Maia Sandu mentioned that Russian agents continue to be infiltrated in state institutions, even if efforts have been made to clean the system of elements of Moscow, and that in this sense there is a need to strengthen actions in the fight against corruption. She reiterated the hope of the European integration of the Republic of Moldova by 2030.

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, Norway has offered the Republic of Moldova aid worth over one million crowns to support the Ukrainian refugees who arrived on its territory, but also to support the energy sector to get rid of dependence on resources from the Russian Federation .

And on the occasion of the visit to Oslo, Maia Sandu thanked Ukraine, which is currently fighting for the security of the Republic of Moldova, but also of the whole of Europe, recalling that over 1.4 million Ukrainian refugees passed through the territory of her country, to whom Moldovan citizens it opened hearts and homes.

Publisher: CLB