IGOR DODON SAYS PUTIN MAY COME TO CHISINAU NOT NEXT YEAR BUT IN 2019

Igor Dodon believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin may pay an official visit to Chisinau in 2019. On Tuesday night, the head of state held an on-line session in the Odnoklassniki social network and answered users' questions.

"I invited the Russian President to come to us, and we discussed the issue. Next March, Russia will hold a presidential election. I am sure everything will be fine there, despite known provocations and the desire of some personalities to destabilize the situation. After the March election in Russia, Moldova will embark on its own parliamentary campaign. So, Mr. Putin could come here in 2019, and we could focus on concrete major issues, such as e.g. the Transnistrian problem", said Igor Dodon.

"And in early December, the Russia-Moldova Parliamentary Friendship Group will assemble for a meeting. Some 20 Moldovan lawmakers will go to Moscow for such a session. The Group met last many years ago. And next year, Moldova will welcome several tens of Deputies from the Russian State Duma [parliament]. We have already agreed upon an approximate timeframe. I guess this is good for our bilateral relations", said the President. Igor Dodon said that in 2018 Moldova may be visited also by His Holiness Kirill, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church.

"I have already sent an invitation to him. His secretaries said that His Holiness wants to come. I hope the visit will take place next September, when Moldova will be hosting the World Family Congress", said the President. Answering Odnoklassniki users' questions, President Igor Dodon stated that he has always stood and will be further standing for the Republic of Moldova's statehood and neutrality , for friendship with Russia, and for the republic's integration into the Eurasian Economic Union [of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, EAES].

"Moldova is 'doomed' to collaboration with the EAES. But simultaneously, we should be developing friendly relations with all countries. Despite whatever pressure, I shall never give up this stance of mine. It is my conviction that a majority of Moldova residents are ready to come out into streets together with me to defend these values", stated Igor Dodon.