What kind of neutrality for the Republic of Moldova

The war in Ukraine and the latest threats Chișinău faced have stepped up the talks over the security strategy of the Republic of Moldova, an ex-soviet Romanian-speaking country

Daniela Budu, 25.05.2022, 13:50

The readiness recently expressed by the EU,
the USA and the UK to provide modern weaponry to the Republic of Moldova in the
context of the devastating war in Ukraine but also given the situation in the
breakaway region of Transdniester brings back to attention the issue of
neutrality as stipulated by the country’s Constitution since 1994.

In fact, the constitutional neutrality has
been largely discussed by the authorities in the neighboring country in the
past three months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and a report conducted
by the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives shows that half of the
country’s population supports the concept of neutrality. Government officials
have given assurances that this kind of neutrality, closely monitored by Moscow
for almost 30 years now, represents the redline in terms of the republic’s
security strategies. Ioan Leahu, expert
in Transdnistrean issues, is backing the policy of his republic and believes
that Russia should not be provoked on this matter.

Ioan Leahu: Neutrality per see is sterile, it doesn’t
make any sense. It’s up to you and it is only you to decide whether to keep it
or take sides. Given the present situation, however, in my opinion we should
not send negative signals. If we are listening carefully to Mrs. Zakharova, the
head of the information and press department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, we
see that every time she finds a way to point the finger at us. And maybe all
these talks and fuss about this neutrality has a minute political context. From
the viewpoint of drawing up a strategy, it seems to me that the government of
the Republic of Moldova is taking into account that neutrality is written in
the Constitution and that allows them to find solutions to other issues as well.

In turn experts in security believe that the neutrality of the little
neighboring country needs to be clarified. According to security expert Igor
Munteanu, the promoters of the republic’s security strategies should question
and clearly define the term.

Igor
Munteanu:Every
state has its own interpretation of neutrality. Neutrality may mean the idea of
not joining a certain defensive bloc, but it may also be nonparticipation in
aggressive actions against other countries. Interpretation may very well vary
in this case. Concerning the Republic of Moldova, the insistence the Russian
Federation has on its neutrality speaks about the strategy to keep the Republic
disarmed and thus maintain its troops there to prevent the expansion of the
West.

The Foreign Ministry in Chisinau gives
assurances that all international partnerships and cooperation have so far been
carried out under the constitutional principle of neutrality. And after talks
with Moldovan president Maia Sandu, the United States has pledged that the
support given will not exceed Chisinau’s requests.

(bill)