PRESIDENT DODON SLASHES STATEMENT ON DEMANDING COMPENSATION FROM RUSSIA

The recent statement by Moldovan Parliament Chairman Andrian Candu concerning the Chisinau authorities' intention to demand from Russia compensation for "the occupation of the Transnistrian region" was but short-sighted and dangerous for Moldova, President Igor Dodon stated in his interview with Russia's official news agency TASS.

Dodon stressed that such sayings have a direct relation to the forthcoming parliamentary election, "at which the ruling Democratic Party [with Speaker Candu being its First Deputy Chairman] is trying to pose itself as the main guarantor and defender of the interests of the United States and European Union in Moldova". The President expressed gratitude to the Russian peacekeepers, "who, together with their Moldovan and Transnistrian colleagues, have been maintaining peace on the Dniester River for 25 years now".

"The Russian peacekeeping operation is a guarantee of further keeping of peace in the region, and our strategic partnership with Russia is a pledge of saving the statehood of Moldova", said the President.