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"We don't want to go back to the past, to be part of Russia again", Moldova intensifies its efforts to join the EU

2023-06-01 16:33:23Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
"We don't want to go back to the past, to be part of Russia
Maia Sandu

A symbolic high-level meeting of EU leaders is taking place today in Moldova. Moldovan leaders hope it will boost their country's long-running bid for European Union integration. This effort has ardent supporters and opponents, both internal and external. VOA correspondent Ricardo Marquina was in Chisinau, Moldova and sent us this story.

Tens of thousands of people recently took to the streets of Chisinau, spurred on by Moldovan President Maia Sandu, to show that Moldovans want their country to be fully integrated into the European Union.

"Moldovans are Europeans and after 7 years we must become full members of the European Union", says President Maia Sandu.

Moldova received candidate status in June last year, against a background of extreme external pressure due to Russia's war against Ukraine.

"Our country should be part of a united Europe. Let's live better, with democracy. We don't want to go back to the past, to be part of the Russian Empire again," Bogdani, a demonstrator who supports EU membership, told Voice of America.

Moldova is deeply divided. For a significant part of the population, the way is towards Russia, not the EU.

The anti-European opposition has been mobilizing on the country's streets for months.

"Historically, we have been united with Russia, with Ukraine, with the Commonwealth of Independent States. Europe will not help us," Romani, an opponent of the country's integration into the EU, told Voice of America.

Support for the Kremlin is particularly evident in the southern region of Gagauzia, where the Russian ambassador to Moldova was warmly greeted by local authorities during a regional festival.

The region's newly elected leader, Evghenia Gutul from the pro-Russian party Shor, spoke to the Voice of America.


"We want to have good relations with everyone, both with European countries and with the Russian Federation. We don't need enemies. We are supporters of the peace and neutrality of our country".

But Moldova's central authorities believe that, despite internal resistance from part of the population, the European path started from Chisinau is irreversible, Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu tells VOA.

"It is clear that the absolute majority of our citizens have voted continuously (in) the last forty years for more integration with Europe, for more connections with Europe."

The war in Ukraine and rising tensions with Russia make this a crucial and dangerous moment for Europe. In this context, analysts say, Moldova is the weakest link./VOA


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