Moldova must consider alternatives, says former Romanian president

10:05 | 03.04.2015 Category: Political

Chisinau, 3 April /MOLDPRES/ - Moldova must have alternatives in the context of the current regional situation. Former Romanian president Traian Basescu, who is on a visit to Moldova made statements to this effect during a press conference today.

"Ukraine’ lesson of the harsh reaction Moscow showed when they tried to turn to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the EU is a lesson to be taken into account. Moscow will not accept for Moldova and Ukraine to join the Western security system nor easily accept the integration of these two countries in the economic systems of the EU. My message is for Moldova to look at the alternatives", said Basescu.

Romania's former president said that "it would be good for Moldova to have a “necessary union” scenario with Romania as a backup plan". "It is a scenario that should be taken into consideration. A voluntarily union takes time, but there is also the scenario in which, in order to preserve the integrity of Moldovan citizens and not to return to a Moscow-controlled system, it would be necessary for Moldova to quickly proceed on this path, based on political decisions supported by a thoroughly explained referendum. The referendum would explain the need of an expeditious union with Romania to integrate on a path different than the usual one towards Euro-Atlantic structures", stressed Basescu.

The former president of the neighbouring state said that if Moldova would apply for EU membership now, it would receive a negative answer. Traian Basescu presented Romania’s path from signing the Free Trade Agreement to the EU integration. "Romania signed the Free Trade Agreement with the EU in 1993 and joined the EU in 2007. Whoever sells the illusion that signing this agreement is equivalent to a guaranteed European perspective, either does not know what they are talking about, or they know but do not consider it necessary to call things by their name", said the former president of Romania.

Traian Basescu is paying a two-day visit to Moldova at the invitation of President Nicolae Timofti.

(Reporter N. Sandu, Editor L. Alcaza)

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