Moldovan Defense Minister: Russia is the only country that doesn’t respect our neutrality
The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Moldova, Anatol Şalaru, stated that Russia is the only country that doesn’t respect Moldova’s neutrality, Newsmaker reported. The statement was Şalaru’s response to the scandal caused by the Ministry’s decision to deploy NATO military equipment on the main square of the country on the 9th of May. According to Şalaru, it was only a memorial tribute.
“We were told that we can’t have fun on that day, that we may only pay tribute to the memory. There was no attack on the neutrality of the Republic of Moldova. USA and NATO adhere to the neutrality of our country. The only country that doesn’t adhere to our neutrality is Russia. This country has illegally maintained its Army on our territory since the Soviet period,” Şalaru stated. The Minister claims that two types of Russian Armed Forces were deployed in Moldova: legal and illegal.
“There are peacekeeping forces that stay legally on the territory of the Republic of Moldova and there are forces that form part of the Russian operational group that stays illegally,” the Minister explained, adding that Moldovan authorities have constantly demanded the withdrawal of Russian Army from the territory of Moldova.
According to the Minister of Defense, the peacekeeping mission with the UN mandate should be placed in the security zone on the Dniester. The Russian 14th Army should be forced to leave. Şalaru stated that the accession of Moldova to NATO would be one of the solutions. “NATO is our rescue in case of possible conflict with Russia,” the Minister explained.