Political analyst: “Moldova needs neutrality to seek withdrawal of Russian troops from Transdnestr”

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Status of a neutral country is very important for Moldova in its aspiration to seek withdrawal of Russian troops from Transdnestr, US analyst of Moldovan origin, observer for The Wall Street Journal and Radio Free Europe Vladimir Sokor said in an interview to Flux newspaper belonging to deputy speaker of the Moldovan parliament Juri Roska. According to Sokor, at the present stage, it would be an ill-considered step for Moldova to give up its neutral status. “At first, they need to make the Russian troops withdraw. After other directions will be open,” Sokor stressed.

The analyst expressed regret that the neutrality argument is not fully used by those who are engaged in Moldova’s foreign policy. “I wish that the foreign ministry and other influential circles in Moldova used the argument more often in their international appeals. I wish that any Chisinau’s step was accompanied by the recurring theme that independence, sovereignty and neutrality make Moldova claim for withdrawal of Russian troops,” Sokor said.

According to him, at present moment Moscow at most wants to return Moldova to the sphere of its influence and at least to preserve its permanent political, economic and military presence in Transdnestr. At the same time, Sokor continues, for Moldova, the idea of giving up Transdnestr in favor for the European integration is not only naïve and unrealizable, but can result in the right Dnestr bank joining Romania. “It is not only unrealistic, it is absurd. Giving up Transdnestr to Russia can result in establishing another Kaliningrad on the left bank of Dnestr,” the political analyst noted.