CHISINAU. July 17 (Interfax) - The new authorities should develop relations both with the West and with the East, adhering to the principle of permanent neutrality, Moldovan President Igor Dodon said.
"We should honor the principle of a well-balanced foreign policy. This concerns both the Socialists and the rightwing ACUM bloc. I said that we will not denounce the Association Agreement with the European Union. We will use this Agreement to improve the quality of life. However, I have never said that Moldova will become a member of the European Union! The EU itself says that they are not ready for expansion, while the Balkan countries have been waiting already for several years [...] Where do we hurry?!" Dodon said on the Polyus show on the Accent-TV channel on Tuesday evening.
He said he is satisfied that the relations with Russia are being restored and that the intergovernmental commission for trade and economic cooperation began working.
"There will be visits both to the West and to Russia. The government has already cancelled or will cancel in the next few days the previous government's decree, which banned officials of the executive authorities from travelling to Moscow. So, the principle of the weighed-out foreign policy is honored," the president said.
"The situation surrounding the observance of the principle of neutrality did not worsen, too," he said.
"Someone is talking about NATO, but the principle of neutrality is stipulated in the Constitution. No one will join NATO without us [without the Party of Socialists]. The next stage is the international recognition of Moldova's neutrality. We should work to this end in order to convince all foreign partners of that," the head of state said.
"The international recognition of the principle of neutrality constitutes the foundation of the future Transdniestrian settlement," he said.
"We will continue the policy of little steps in the Transdniestrian settlement, we have something to work on here. We need some time to team up with our partners from the right wing. We need some time between half a year and a year. If we work in harmony, then we will be able to move quickly. If there is a consensus between the leftists and the rightists, we will also gain foreign support, both from the East and from the West. We will be able to resolve many problems, including that of Transdniestria. Everything depends on us," Dodon said.