Moldovan foreign affairs minister says Moldova's neutrality status does not mean demilitarization, isolation on foreign stage

Chisinau, 30 November /MOLDPRES/ - Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Nicu Popescu has represented Moldova at the meeting of foreign affairs ministers of the NATO member states, of Finland, Sweden, Ukraine, as well as with partner states invited –Moldova, Georgia and Bosnia & Herzegovina, the Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry’s (MAEIE) press service has reported.  

The Moldovan official thanked Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu, the host of the event, and all colleagues from the NATO for the invitation launched for Moldova for the first time ever.  

„I was honoured to feel the political solidarity in each country speech given at the meeting.

I presented our vision as to the regional security, the risks and dramatic consequences of Russia’s aggression war against Ukraine on Moldova’s security, including in energy aspects,’’ Minister Nicu Popescu said.  

The Moldovan diplomacy head emphasized the position of the Moldovan authorities – of principle for reestablishing the international order based on rules and norms, with the observance of the sovereign rights and security interests of all states. Moldova speaks out for the consolidation of the democratic, social, economic, energy, military, information resilience and for increasing the ability to counteract the new hybrid challenges, including the ones from the information space.    

In his speech given to the foreign affairs ministers of the participating countries, Deputy PM Nicu Popescu reviewed the present priorities of Moldova, among which the implementation of the reforms necessary and demanded by the citizens for the advancement of the process of European modernization, settlement of the pressing problems in the social and economic sector, ensuring stability and security of the country.      

While thanking for Moldova’s strong support on behalf of the NATO, in the country’s capacity of partner, the Moldovan diplomacy head discussed the strengthening of the security and defence sector in line with the new developments and requirements of the current security environment, development of the capacities needed to cope with the emerging challenges. The expertise and assistance of the Alliance in the promotion of reforms and, in particular, for developing the capacities of security, defence and resilience are essential for our democracy.   

At the meeting, Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Nicu Popescu informed about the usefulness of implementing the concrete bilateral programmes, including of the goals of the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) with NATO for the 2022-2023,the programme on the strengthening of the integrity in the security and defence sector, carrying out of projects within the Science for Peace and Security programme, cooperation in combating the hybrid threats and promotion of public diplomacy activities.    

Moldova is also a provider of security through the country’s contribution to the consolidation of the security through participation in the peacekeeping operations both in Europe and in Middle East and Africa.

The NATO states’ representatives reconfirmed the Alliance’s commitment for the partnership with Moldova, having at the basis our requests. They reiterated the organization’s strong support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and respect for the country’s neutrality status, which does not mean demilitarization and isolation on the foreign stage, but capacity to protect the citizens, ensuring their peace and safety.  

Photo: MAEIE