Romania’s new president Nicusor Dan on Tuesday said he backed Moldova’s EU bid in a visit to the capital, Chișinău
It was Dan’s first official bilateral visit abroad since he won the presidential elections on May 18, a symbolic trip that highlighted the strong historical and strategic ties_ and pro-European path_ that the neighbors share.
His visit, in which he voiced support for Moldova’s efforts to integrate into the European Union ahead of September elections where pro-Russian forces are expected to do well, had added geostrategic significance.
Had nationalist rival and frontrunner George Simion won Romania’s May 18 presidential runoff, he would not have been able to visit Moldova where he is a persona non grata.
Mr. Dan told President Maia Sandu that he wanted the pro-EU parties to win September parliamentary elections.
“As President of Romania (I am), interested in Moldova (and) regional security including Romania’s security from this perspective, I very much want the pro-Western direction to win in the Republic of Moldova,” he said in a joint press conference with Sandu.
“We share the same set of values and together we have the same aspirations,” he added. Sandu called Romania “a strong partner’ and its president ” a friend of the Moldovan people.”
Romania has traditionally been the strongest backer of Moldova’s pro-Western path in Europe, but Simion was opposed to pro-EU President Maia Sandu.
Even during Dan’s visit, Mr. Simion urged Moldovans to vote against Sandu’s party in the September ballot.
Moldova’s opposition parties are controlled by Russia which seeks to block the country’s shift towards the West.
Dan and Sandu will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday at a regional summit in Odessa.
Nicusor Dan brings change …. and children to Romania’s Cotroceni presidential Palace
