MOLDOVA INTERESTED TO STAY AWAY FROM EAST-WEST CONFRONTATION - PRESIDENT DODON

President Igor Dodon has stated the Republic of Moldova is interested to shape a well-balanced external policy and to avoid involvement into the "the ephemeral confrontation between the West and the East". Dodon stated this on Friday, addressing the 6th Global Baku Forum continuing in the capital of Azerbaijan.

After that, he published the theses of his Baku speech on his Facebook page, pointing out inter alia that such a stance is particularly important for Moldova in the conditions of a growing uncertainty in the OSCE area.

"We, small countries like Moldova, need to have an understandable picture of the modern world", remarked Igor Dodon.

The President stated an intention to further strengthen the permanent neutrality status fixed in the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova, to work to achieve its recognition at the international level on the example of Switzerland, Finland, Austria, Ireland, Malta, Turkmenistan and other countries.

"We shall be friends with all - with the West as well as the East, but not together with somebody against somebody. We don't wish to play the role of a pawn in geopolitical chess battles", wrote the Moldovan President.

Dodon wrote he wants to send a message to the OSCE Secretary General with an initiative to organize a Summit of the Heads of small OSCE countries in 2019.

"Our objective is to create a territorially integral, law-governed democratic neutral multinational state, in which all citizens will be guaranteed a worthy living and confidence about the future", wrote Moldovan President Igor Dodon.