RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

The Republic of Moldova Looking towards the East

Igor Dodon pays to Moscow his first foreign visit as president of the Republic of Moldova.

The Republic of Moldova Looking towards the East
The Republic of Moldova Looking towards the East

, 18.01.2017, 13:29

In late December,
Igor Dodon was sworn in as President of the Republic of Moldova. The head of
the former Soviet state with a predominantly Romanian-speaking population made
a stormy entrance into his new office. Although in 2013 the Constitutional
Court of Moldova ruled that the Romanian language was the official language of
the Republic, Igor Dodon replaced it, on the site of the presidency, with the
so-called Moldovan Language. Also, he felt the urge to settle accounts with the
former president of Romania Traian Basescu, by withdrawing his Moldovan citizenship,
only two months after the latter had obtained it.

Also, as a continuation of the speeches held during the election
campaign against the Association Agreement with the EU, he decided to remove
the EU flag from the entrance of the Republic’s Palace in Chisinau. On the
other hand, in order to reconfirm his pro-Russian orientation, Igor Dodon chose
to pay to Moscow his first formal foreign visit as head of state, this being
the first bilateral visit by a Moldovan leader to Russia in the past 9 years.
Igor Dodon’s main goal is to resume the strategic partnership with Russia, left
aside during the term in office of his pro-European predecessor Nicolae
Timofti, to whom the rapprochement with the EU, with help from Romania, was a
priority.


On Tuesday,
president Dodon was received at the Kremlin by his Russian counterpart Vladimir
Putin, to whom he said that the Association Agreement between the Republic of
Moldova, concluded in 2014, could be revised or even cancelled after the next
parliamentary elections in Chisinau, provided they are won by the Socialists’
Party, whose leader he was until taking over the office of president. In Igor
Dodon’s vision, the association agreement with the Europeans has not benefited
the Republic of Moldova in any way. On the other hand, Chisinau would get
considerable advantages if part of the Eurasian Economic Union and president
Dodon asked for Putin’s support for Moldova to get the status of observer.

Moscow, too, granted Igor Dodon’s visit a higher political status, which could
be seen in the way in which the visit was organized, the list and format of
talks. Vladimir Putin offered Dodon a historical map of the Republic of
Moldova, as it was back in the 18th century, which made Dodon state
that half of the current territory of Romania is Moldovan. Pundits say that
Dodon is in Moscow to approach issues that are of interest not to Moldova, but
to Moscow. The fact that the official delegation does not include any member of
the Government is evidence enough that Igor Dodon is on his own and does not
act as a representative of the state.

Roxana Mînzatu (photo: gov.ro)
Today in the News Wednesday, 13 November 2024

 Roxana Mînzatu, heard by MEPs   

European MPs heard Roxana Mînzatu, Romania’s candidate for Vice-President for the People, Skills and Preparedness portfolio.   ʺIt was...

 Roxana Mînzatu, heard by MEPs   
Gen. Gheorghita Vlad Photo: facebook.com/sef.smap
Today in the News Wednesday, 13 November 2024

Peace, no longer a certainty in Europe

    Less than 2 weeks from now, Romania will hold the first round of its presidential election, and the campaign remains low-key, limited...

Peace, no longer a certainty in Europe
EP and local elections in Romania on June 9 (Photo credits: AEP)
Today in the News Tuesday, 12 November 2024

Preparations for the elections abroad

  After the local and European parliamentary elections, held simultaneously on June 9, Romanians are preparing for an election marathon. They will...

Preparations for the elections abroad
Photo: kschneider2991 / pixabay.com
Today in the News Tuesday, 12 November 2024

Growing trade deficit

The trade balance deficit recorded in Romania in the first nine months of the current year increased by 15%, as compared to the same period of 2023,...

Growing trade deficit
Today in the News Monday, 11 November 2024

Central Bank Report on Inflation

The latest report on inflation was approved at the end of last week by the Board of Directors of the National Bank of Romania. According to the...

Central Bank Report on Inflation
Today in the News Friday, 08 November 2024

EPC meeting in Budapest

European leaders met in Budapest to discuss security challenges facing Europe, with an emphasis on the situation in Ukraine, as well as the issues of...

EPC meeting in Budapest
Today in the News Friday, 08 November 2024

Romania, from wages to youth unemployment

Data from the Statistical Office of the European Union – Eurostat show that the adjusted average annual full-time salary of Romanians is the fourth...

Romania, from wages to youth unemployment
Today in the News Thursday, 07 November 2024

Reactions to the election of Donald Trump

Many political leaders around the world have reacted by congratulating the Republican Donald Trump, who announced his victory in the US presidential...

Reactions to the election of Donald Trump

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company