Moldovan political pundit sees independence as only realistic option for Moldova

The Republic of Moldova: 25 Years of Independence

Oazu Nantoi, political analyst, adviser in Chisinau Municipal Council

MOLDPRES: After the proclamation of Independence, Moldova could follow three ways of development: independent, unionist or closely dependent on the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (most recently, the Eurasian Union). Should we start from the very beginning, what path would you choose?

Nantoi: Unionism has not been and is not a political project. The CIS corpse has long ago became a mummy, while the Eurasian Union, composed of three authoritarian regimes and dominated by revanchist Russia, goes through a multidimensional crisis that will not end well.

Independence is the only realistic option. Another matter is that the Moldovan society has proved to be unprepared for building a democratic and functional state, for edifying a competitive national economy, etc. While our political class, with every election cycle, became more and more cynical, corrupt and arrogant. We are in a quite serious crisis, primarily a moral one.

MOLDPRES: What future do you see for Moldova?

Nantoi: We have neighbours, ready to support us, not to speak about EU and the USA. We are a captive state, but we have an Association Agreement with the  European Union, under which we committed to modernize our country based on EU standards. Other countries have gone through tougher trials and withstood. Therefore – everything depends on us, on the involvement of each citizen. Only by the mobilization of everybody, and of each one individually, we can overcome the state of crisis that has emerged and give an optimistic touch to the project on statehood of the Republic of Moldova. It sounds trivial, but everything depends on us.

(Reporter P. Beregoi, editor M. Jantovan)