Moldova should stop endless discussions about geopolitical vectors of development and start building a modern state on the basis of European values, believes Vitaly Andrievschi, Director of the Institute of Effective Politics (IPE) of Moldova.

Speaking at a news conference in Infotag, he said that further empty political debates instead of real deeds may jeopardize the very statehood of Moldova. "That's why we must not be talking endlessly about what to choose - Brussels or Moscow, but must start building Moldova on the basis of European values. Throughout the quarter of a century of its independence, Moldova has been wasting time on looking for its proper place in the modern world, while other countries such as Poland, Lithuania, Estonia were developing themselves and eventually have come to occupy their proper place in the modern world", said the political scientist.

Vitaly Andrievschi said that this recommendation of his is aimed primarily at President Igor Dodon, "who is trying to re-direct the country's development towards Eurasia".

"The East cannot offer anything important or necessary to Moldova, whose future must be linked with the building of an independent state on the basis of European values", stated the expert.

In his opinion, "One can already notice some positive trends. For instance, the Government of Pavel Filip acted efficiently like a firefighter and pulled the country out of the fire of the 2016 crisis. The activity of his Cabinet, with the parliamentary support provided by the Democratic Party, permitted to normalize the situation in the country. Budget revenues have begun growing, and with the current growth rate a real chance is appearing that the Budget may double in 5 years or so. The minimal permissible salary and the average salary size have grown.

The government has unfolded a large-scale struggle against corruption. The prosecution service, police and even the Government itself are being reformed". IPE expert Annaslav Iacovenco also pointed out positive trends in the Moldovan economy development namely the country's gross domestic product grew by 2.8% in the first half of the year, and Moldovan exports - by 13.9%.

"Of course, we cannot yet say that our GDP meets the requirements of a steady development. To have the possibility to realize new investment projects and to set our economy in a real motion, the rates of growth must be 2-3 times higher. That's only when we may come to have a probability that in 5-10 years the Moldovan economy will approach the level of developed European countries", said the expert.

Iacovenco offered a set of first-priority measures for achieving this goal: to open Moldovan borders for trans-national businesses; to realize measures for fiscal stimulation of economic operators; to eliminate (for a certain time) the system of state control, with a subsequent reform of the system; to request Moldovan embassies in foreign countries to work more actively with foreign investors.

"The chief goal of our economy must be the raising of the per capita GDP size in Moldova [currently - $1,902 p.a.] at least up to the level of Russia [$8,902]", stated the expert.