Number of Russian diplomats in Chisinau may be reduced - Moldovan FM

CHISINAU. July 6 (Interfax) - Moldova is discussing the reduction in the number of Russian diplomats there over Russia's disrespectful policies towards it, Moldovan Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nicu Popescu said.

"In the case of Russia, we see hostile, wrong, disrespectful policies towards Moldova. Therefore everyone, including myself, has questions about the number of people who work as diplomats or engage in other activities who are not involved in solving and minimizing problems in our relations with Russia," Popescu said in an interview with the Vocea Basarabiei television channel.

He did not rule out that the Moldovan authorities may expel Russian diplomats. "There are questions about the number of Russian diplomats accredited in Moldova. If unfriendly policies towards Moldova continue, retaliatory measures, including diplomatic ones, will be taken" he said.

In mid-June, Andrian Keptonar, a member of parliament for ruling Action and Solidarity Party, said that Chisinau intends to reduce the number of diplomats and employees of the Russian embassy in Moldova. Some 150 Russian citizens currently work in the Russian embassy in Chisinau, he said.

Over the past few months, the foreign ministries of Moldova and Russia have summoned each other's ambassadors and presented notes of protest. On April 25, the Russian Foreign Ministry made a protest to Moldovan Ambassador Lilian Darii over Chisinau's unfriendly actions towards Russia.