Chisinau so far unable to join all of EU sanctions against Russia - FM

CHISINAU. July 2 (Interfax) - Chisinau has pledged a higher level of synchronization of its legislation and actions with EU policies, yet it is unable to join the sanctions against Russia that may harm the national economy, Moldovan Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi said.

"Our obligations imply 100% implementation of the EU sanctions policy by the Republic of Moldova. Yet this is a matter of the future. Currently, we have reached approximately 80% of the target. So, we cannot speak about full synchronization of sanctions at this point," Popsoi said in an interview with TV8.

Moldova has not joined the sanctions against Russia in the areas related to Moldovan exports and imports, including due to the common Soviet legacy (spares, equipment and hardware made in the USSR), he said.

The main package of U.S. sanctions against Russia was adopted in 2014 but Moldova did not join it because of a high risk of damage, Popsoi said.

"The European Union understands our stance. The situation differs from one country to another. Not all EU member states apply the sanctions equally, and each of them keeps national interest in mind," he said.

While answering questions about Moldovan-Belarusian relations, Popsoi said Moldova "has a substantial line of products, especially agricultural, which it exports to the Belarusian market."

"We do not seek to harm our relations with Belarus," he said.

Meanwhile, "Moldova-Russia relations are at their lowest since the proclamation of independence," Popsoi said.