Moldova–Russia relations: Difference between revisions

Relation with Russia, either as Russian Empire, Russian Federation or Russian SFSR in the USSR context were always of primary importance for Moldova. This fact was clearly stressed by Dimitrie Cantemir, a prominent Moldavian scientist, who strongly supported Peter the Great.

In 1940, Moldova was occupied by the Soviet Union, and after changing hands in 1941 and 1944 during World War II, it was split between the Ukrainian SSR and the newly-created Moldavian SSR. Moldova declared its independence from the USSR on August 27, 1991. Despite signing international obligations to withdraw,[3] Russian military forces have remained on Moldovan territory; since 1993 they have been stationed in the breakaway territory of Transnistria against the will of the Moldovan Government.[4]

Relationships between Moldova and Russia deteriorated in November 2003 over a Russian proposal for the solution of the Transnistrian conflict, which Moldovan authorities refused to accept. In the following election, held in 2005, the Communist party made a formal 180 degree turn and was re-elected on a pro-Western platform, with Voronin being re-elected to a second term as a president. Since 1999, Moldova has constantly affirmed its desire to join the European Union,[35][36] and implement its first three-year Action Plan within the framework of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) of the EU.[37][38] ^ http://www.jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2368523 Jamestown: "MOLDOVAN PRESIDENT WANTS OUT OF RUSSIA'S ORBIT" ^ [35] Moldpres:"Voronin highlighted, that we will strive for becoming an EU member" ^ [36] Itar-Tass ^ [3] The 1999 OCSE Istanbul Summit Decisions on Moldova and Georgia: Prospects for Implementation at Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars ^ a b c [4] Statement by H.E. Mr. Andrei Stratan at the General Debate of the Sixty Second Session of the UN General Assembly, New-York, 1 October 2007: "I would like to reiterate on this occasion the position of the Republic of Moldova according to which the withdrawal of the Russian troops that remain on the Moldovan territory against its will, in conformity with the obligations assumed by the Russian Federation in 1999 in Istanbul, would create the necessary premises for ratifying and applying the Adapted CFE Treaty."

^ [37] Moldova-EU Action Plan Approved by European Commission, http://www.azi.md, 14 December 2004, retrieved 2 July 2007 ^ [38] EU/MOLDOVA ACTION PLAN