Скачать или смотреть Borrell guarantees EU support for Moldova in the face of Moscow’s stalking

The head of European diplomacy visits Chisinau and meets with the Government of the country, which receives the first installment of international humanitarian aid
Is #Moldova #Putin’s Next Target? For days international diplomacy has been clear: if the expansionist ambitions of the Kremlin are not curbed, this small ex-Soviet country, with just 2.6 million inhabitants (also Georgia) can be engulfed. And also following a pattern similar to that of the Ukraine. Using as an excuse the latent conflict that exists between #Chisnau (the country’s capital) and its autonomous separatist territory of Transnistria, which is mostly Russian-speaking.

Already on February 24, Moscow released a statement announcing its intention to carry out “military maneuvers” in that region. And this Tuesday the video that a Belarusian journalist posted on Telegram, after the celebration of a security council in #Minsk, showed Alexander Lukashenko pointing on a map which, according to the British media ‘The Independent’, revealed a future strategy : the movement of Russian troops from Odessa to Moldova.

https://eudebates.tv/ #eudebates

Ms President [of the Republic of Moldova, Maia #Sandu],

This is my first visit to the Republic of Moldova in my capacity of High Representative of the European Union for Foreign and Security Policy. And I am very glad to be here today, together with my friend, Commissioner [for Enlargement and Neighbourhood, Olivér] Várhelyi.

I would have hoped that this visit could have taken place in less difficult circumstances. The circumstances are difficult, you know very well why, because in your borders there is the biggest threat to peace and stability in Europe since World War II. The Moldovan authorities and the Moldovan people have shown their generosity in providing immediate support to the refugees fleeing Ukraine – be it Ukrainians or third country nationals. Because I want to use this opportunity to stress that, according to the values of the European Union, all people deserve the same treatment without discrimination, affecting any refugees on the basis of whatever characteristics – be it national or ethnic or whatever. They all deserve the same treatment.

I have to recognise that in the last week, [the Republic of] Moldova has provided safe passage to more than 100,000 refugees that are escaping the war in Ukraine. It has provided refuge to mothers and more than 20,000 children fleeing the bombs in Ukraine. I would like to express our most sincere gratitude and appreciation to you, Ms President, and your country. We see your efforts and solidarity with the people of Ukraine, and we will support you where we can. Because we know that this is going to be a heavy burden on your people.

But then, the problem is not only Donbas, the problem is not only Ukraine. What is at stake is the stability in Europe and the whole international order. You can be sure, and that is why we are here today, to stress our support and solidarity with the Republic of Moldova in the current situation, across all areas – from humanitarian, energy and electricity, macro financial assistance and security and defence.

Allow me to say something on something about each of these areas we are working on together.

On electricity, we are currently looking at supporting energy security in [the Republic of] Moldova and bringing the country towards the European Union electricity grid and we hope to have an assessment by the European network (ENSTO-E) quickly.

Several Member States have already pledged humanitarian supplies, some of which have already arrived. And Commissioner Várhelyi, who is in charge of the countries in the neighbourhood, will say more about this.

Let me concentrate on what is specifically my duty, which are the areas of security and defence, in particular when it comes to strengthening [the Republic of] Moldova’s resilience. We will support [the Republic of] Moldova in strengthening [the Republic of] Moldova’s cyber security. An expert mission is here already, in Chisinau, as we speak, to assess the needs and identify concrete support measures, that can be implemented at very short notice.

Secondly, we are going to use our European Peace Facility to provide the Moldovan armed forces with medical equipment and support in case of crisis. We will discuss today options for additional assistance and logistics, if needed.

Third, it is important also to stress how we can fight against disinformation. Disinformation has become a fully-fledged war and this has become an active component of what has happened in Ukraine. I think that we are ready to support [the Republic of] Moldova on that, providing its citizens the right to information. The right to information is one of the most important rights of a citizen and we are engaged on this file.