Moldova: Economic Cooperation With Russia Compatible With Chisinau-EU Deal

A so-called road map to restore trade and economic relations between Russia and Moldova does not imply a revision of the agreements signed between Chisinau and other internationals organizations, including the European Union, the Moldovan Economic Ministry said on Thursday.

CHISINAU (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, media reported that Moscow had prepared a plan to restore economic relations with Moldova and proposed it to Chisinau. The proposed roadmap contains a list of measures, which could be divided in three groups — technical, in the sphere of energy and geopolitical. In line with that, the decision to form a working group to develop the roadmap had been taken by the two sides.

"The necessity of the creation of a working group is dictated by the need to synchronize… both sides' proposals for their roadmap projects…. The roadmap that is due to be discussed and subsequently signed, does not imply any revision of the agreements signed by Moldova and the EU, the CIS [Commonwealth of Independent States], and international or regional organizations," a ministry representative told reporters.

The ministry stressed that the proposed roadmap was yet to be promoted, as it was a draft document with "unilateral proposals that need to be discussed and approved."

In 2014, Moldova signed a free trade zone agreement with the European Union. Following the move, Russia canceled zero customs taxes on a number of commodities from this country, which included wine, meat, vegetables, fruits and cereals. The decision was explained by the need to prevent possible re-export of products originating from the European Union via Moldova.