Moldovan president vows not to allow unification with Romania
CHISINAU. Sept 28 (Interfax) - Moldovan President Igor Dodon says that he will never allow Moldova's unification with Romania, even though he has never had anti-Romanian sentiments, Dodon wrote in a statement on Facebook.
The statement followed reports that the Moldovan parliamentary speaker, Andrian Candu, had apologized to Romania for Dodon's harsh remarks.
"I officially apologized for the remarks that President Dodon has made about Romania lately. The president, who believes that he lacks power, compensates for this by making harsh statements," Candu said at a meeting in Bucharest with Liviu Dragnea, the chairman of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies, and Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, the chairman of the Senate.
"Mr. Candu should apologize indeed," Dodon wrote. "At length and repeatedly. But he should apologize to his own citizens rather than to foreign governments. For disappointments, social problems, and the lawlessness of the democratic authorities of recent years."
"As concerns Romania, I have never been anti-Romanian, but I will denounce unionism and will stand up in defense of Moldova's statehood. We are two related nations, but each has its own history," he said.
Dodon had earlier repeatedly accused Romania of interference in Moldova's internal affairs and the desire "to absorb the country." He has proposed adopting legislation banning any groups or associations promoting the idea of unification with Romania.