- Title: Moldova returning to strategic partnership with Russia - Dodon
- Date: 2nd June 2017
- Summary: ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA (JUNE 2, 2017) (RUSSIAN POOL) MOLDOVAN PRESIDENT IGOR DODON WALKING TO PODIUM AT ECONOMIC FORUM DISCUSSION (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MOLDOVAN PRESIDENT, IGOR DODON, SAYING: "After eight years of a pro-European and clearly anti-Russian policy, after last year's presidential election, we have started to rectify the situation. And we have returned to a strategic partnership with Russian partners." AUDIENCE LISTENING VARIOUS OF DODON SHAKING PUTIN'S HAND AND TAKING SEAT (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MOLDOVAN PRESIDENT, IGOR DODON, SAYING: "In recent years they (Western countries) are trying to actively persuade us that the only choice is the European Union. We signed the association agreement... Ordinary people are asking themselves very often: why rush to catch a train that is losing wagons? Brexit. Let's see what happens next. For the small countries like Moldova the only chance to survive is to be in good relations with the West and with the East." CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 16th June 2017 17:11
- Keywords: European Union EU Igor Dodon Moldova economic forum St Petersburg Russia
- Location: ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
- City: ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016JL573T
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Moldova has values different from those in the West and the ex-Soviet nation is now returning to a strategic partnership with Russia, Moldovan President Igor Dodon said on Friday (June 2).
"After eight years of a pro-European and clearly anti-Russian policy, after last year's presidential election, we have started to rectify the situation ... and have returned to a strategic partnership with Russia," Dodon told an economic forum in St. Petersburg.
He also added that Moldova was unable to join the European Union in its current form, questioning the benefits of integration with the bloc after Britain voted to quit.
"Ordinary people are asking themselves very often: why rush to catch a train that is losing wagons? Brexit. Let's see what happens next," Dodon said.
Squeezed between Ukraine and EU member Romania, Moldova signed a political and trade agreement with the European bloc in 2014 that damaged its ties with Moscow, which imposed trade restrictions on Moldovan farming exports.
Dodon's Socialist party wants to scrap that agreement in favour of joining a Eurasian economic union dominated by Russia - a policy backed by many Moldovans who have suffered financially from the economic downturn. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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