Moldova seeks integration into EU, does not view EAEU as foreign policy priority - foreign minister
CHISINAU. Aug 5 (Interfax) - The European Union is the only association Moldova wants to integrate into, while involvement in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is not an objective of Moldova's foreign policy, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nicolae Popescu.
"Moldova will not integrate into certain post-Soviet associations and will take no part in political integration processes. The Eurasian Union is absolutely not a foreign political objective of Moldova. Good relations with Russia, Ukraine and Belarus are important tasks of the foreign policy, but integration into post-Soviet organizations, including the Eurasian Economic Union, is not on the agenda. The European Union remains the only goal of Moldova's integration," Popescu told the radio station Europa Libera on Monday.
Speaking of relations with Russia, Popescu said he was planning to visit Moscow in early September.
"Agenda of this visit is still being specified," but it is already planned to discuss trade, economic cooperation, and the need to unblock Moldovan agricultural exports to Russia, he said.
"Moldova wants to normalize relations with Russia so that manufacturers could enlarge their exports to the Russian market," Popescu said.
He also said he planned to discuss the Transdniestrian settlement process, considering Russia's involvement in the 5+2 talks.
"The issue is highly sensitive to the Moldovan public, political parties, and all citizens of Moldova. There is no consensus on methods of settling the Transdniestrian conflict, and Moldovan citizens do not definitively want the authorities to avoid the path of federalization," Popescu said.