Chisinau relations with NATO is a missing topic in the public space in Moldova

Avoiding discussions on NATO at the official level is paradoxical because the ruling parties have not disputed, with some minor exceptions, the importance of relations between both sides. Moreover, the development of relations with NATO offered the opportunity, for our state, to bring up for discussion, in the North Atlantic Cooperation Council, topics of major importance for the Republic of Moldova, affirms the IDIS “Viitorul” expert, Veceaslav Berbeca in the Foreign Policy Bulletin no. 45, entitled “Republic of Moldova – NATO relations”.

“Pragmatic relations between the parties are the subject of discussion when Chisinau needs expertise or technical and financial assistance for implementing some projects with the NATO help. In this context we refer, in particular, to the actions aimed at identifying, analyzing, packing, storage, in safe conditions, of over 3200 tons of dangerous chemicals and pesticides which were kept in improper conditions in rural areas of the country”, exemplifies the IDIS “Viitorul” analyst.

According to the author, there are, at least, two reasons explaining this reserved attitude of the population and political elites in Chisinau. First, it is the negative perception towards NATO inherited by the Moldovan citizens from the Cold War period. Another hidden, but obvious, reason relates to the negative attitude of Russia towards the NATO enlargement.

“However, it is worthwhile mentioning that neutrality status is not an impediment to cooperation with NATO. Furthermore, EU neutral member states, we refer to when we bring up for discussion the neutrality status, are actively involved in the NATO operation in Afghanistan, deploying from 3 people (Austria) to 500 (Sweden). The Republic of Moldova, not participating in the NATO operation in Afghanistan, did not attend the summit on 20-21 May in Chicago. The participation in such meetings is a performance indicator of the country in the world”, thinks the expert Veceaslav Berbeca.

Besides military participation programs already mentioned, there are several areas where expertise and experience of NATO countries is also crucial to Chisinau, like the assistance in the development of a system of emergency planning and disaster management capacity. We can also specify programs aimed at adopting measures and actions to combat new security threats and challenges: terrorism, cyber threats, identifying buildings vulnerable to seismic activity in Vrancea area, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The Foreign Policy Bulletin is a series of analyses written by local and foreign experts, dedicated to the most important foreign policy issues, major developments in the Black Sea area, cooperation with international organizations and peacekeeping activities in the region. The Bulletin is distributed electronically to EU officials, being intended primarily for external public. This is in order to provide objective information about the progress of the Republic of Moldova in its efforts to get closer to the EU. The publication is produced with the financial support of the Soros Foundation-Moldova.

Download here the 45th Edition of the Foreign Policy Statewatch:

http://www.viitorul.org/doc.php?l=en&id=3913&idc=358

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