In Russia, Moldovan president says may scrap EU trade pact

MOSCOW, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Moldova may scrap a trade agreement with the European Union after the country's next parliamentary elections, Moldovan President Igor Dodon said on Tuesday during his first state visit to Russia.

Speaking in Moscow at a news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Dodon said it was "curious" that Moldova's trade turnover with the EU had wilted since signing a political and trade pact with the bloc in 2014.

"We gained nothing from this agreement," he told reporters.

"We are not against the EU, we have common borders, but you cannot build a relationship on anti-Russia rhetoric," news agencies quoted him as saying at a news conference held after the meeting with Putin.

Dodon was elected in November with just over 50 percent of the vote after calling in his campaign for a referendum on Moldova's relationship with the EU, which came at the expense of ties with Russia. No referendum has yet been announced.

Moscow imposed retaliatory trade restrictions on Moldovan farming exports, and Dodon's promise to improve relations with the country's former Soviet master found favour with many Moldovans who have been hit financially by the bans and a broader economic downturn.

Dodon's win and move away from the EU reflects a loss of trust in pro-European leaders in Moldova and Russia's increasingly assertive influence over ex-Soviet states.

Putin struck a conciliatory but sharp tone with his counterpart, saying Russia's neighbours were free to make their own decisions and even court the EU, but Moscow would want its interests to be respected.

"It needs to be recognised that mutually beneficial ties with Russia deteriorated against the background of attempts to force a closer relationship with the European Union," he said.

Dodon's promise to side with Russia over the EU is in direct conflict with the stance of Moldova's current government and his stance on the issue has been mixed since taking office.

He has called for early parliamentary elections this year to force out the government but also said the president "should be neither pro-European nor pro-Russian".

On Tuesday, he said Chisinau did not intend to build an "iron curtain" with the bloc.

Moldova, the poorest country in Europe, is expected to return to growth in the near future after contracting 0.5 percent in 2015. But its exports have yet to recover to pre-crisis levels, falling 4.3 percent in the first quarter of 2016.

Ukraine, another ex-Soviet republic, also played with the idea of closer ties with the EU but abruptly pulled out of the trade deal in late 2013.

The move prompted mass street protests in Kiev, forcing then President Viktor Yanukovich from office and paving the road for Moscow's annexation of Crimea.

Dodon said Moldova needed to maintain friendly relations with Ukraine and would not risk changing its position on Crimea. Previously, Moldova has said it does not recognise Russia's right to annex Crimea. (Addition reporting by Andrey Ostroukh; Writing by Jack Stubbs; Editing by Alison Williams)</s>MOSCOW (Reuters) - Moldova may scrap a trade agreement with the European Union after the country's next parliamentary elections, Moldovan President Igor Dodon said on Tuesday during his first state visit to Russia.

Speaking in Moscow at a news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Dodon said it was "curious" that Moldova's trade turnover with the EU had wilted since signing a political and trade pact with the bloc in 2014.

"We gained nothing from this agreement," he told reporters.

"We are not against the EU, we have common borders, but you cannot build a relationship on anti-Russia rhetoric," news agencies quoted him as saying at a news conference held after the meeting with Putin.

Dodon was elected in November with just over 50 percent of the vote after calling in his campaign for a referendum on Moldova's relationship with the EU, which came at the expense of ties with Russia. No referendum has yet been announced.

Moscow imposed retaliatory trade restrictions on Moldovan farming exports, and Dodon's promise to improve relations with the country's former Soviet master found favor with many Moldovans who have been hit financially by the bans and a broader economic downturn.

Dodon's win and move away from the EU reflects a loss of trust in pro-European leaders in Moldova and Russia's increasingly assertive influence over ex-Soviet states.

Putin struck a conciliatory but sharp tone with his counterpart, saying Russia's neighbors were free to make their own decisions and even court the EU, but Moscow would want its interests to be respected.

"It needs to be recognized that mutually beneficial ties with Russia deteriorated against the background of attempts to force a closer relationship with the European Union," he said.

Dodon's promise to side with Russia over the EU is in direct conflict with the stance of Moldova's current government and his stance on the issue has been mixed since taking office.

He has called for early parliamentary elections this year to force out the government but also said the president "should be neither pro-European nor pro-Russian".

On Tuesday, he said Chisinau did not intend to build an "iron curtain" with the bloc.

Moldova, the poorest country in Europe, is expected to return to growth in the near future after contracting 0.5 percent in 2015. But its exports have yet to recover to pre-crisis levels, falling 4.3 percent in the first quarter of 2016.

Ukraine, another ex-Soviet republic, also played with the idea of closer ties with the EU but abruptly pulled out of the trade deal in late 2013.

The move prompted mass street protests in Kiev, forcing then President Viktor Yanukovich from office and paving the road for Moscow's annexation of Crimea.

Dodon said Moldova needed to maintain friendly relations with Ukraine and would not risk changing its position on Crimea. Previously, Moldova has said it does not recognize Russia's right to annex Crimea.</s>MOSCOW (Reuters) - Moldova may scrap a trade agreement with the European Union after the country’s next parliamentary election, President Igor Dodon said on Tuesday during his first state visit to Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with his Moldovan counterpart Igor Dodon during a news conference at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, January 17, 2017. Sputnik/Alexei Druzhinin/Kremlin via REUTERS

Speaking in Moscow at a news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Dodon said it was “curious” that Moldova’s trade turnover with the EU had wilted since signing a political and trade pact with the bloc in 2014.

“We gained nothing from this agreement,” he told reporters.

“We are not against the EU, we have common borders, but you cannot build a relationship on anti-Russia rhetoric,” news agencies quoted Dodon as saying after meeting with Putin.

Dodon was elected in November with just over 50 percent of the vote after calling in his campaign for a referendum on Moldova’s relationship with the EU, which came at the expense of ties with Russia. No referendum has yet been announced.

Moscow imposed retaliatory trade restrictions on Moldovan farming exports in response to Chisinau’s signing of an association agreement with the EU in 2014. Dodon’s vow to improve relations with the country’s former Soviet master found favor with many Moldovans who have been hit financially by Russia’s bans and a broader economic downturn.

Dodon’s win and move away from the EU reflects a loss of trust in pro-European leaders in Moldova and Russia’s increasingly assertive influence over ex-Soviet states.

The coordinator of the pro-European ruling coalition in Moldova, Vlad Plahotniuc, said the country would not be pulled out of closer integration with the EU, criticizing Dodon for his comments to Putin.

“Our country does not have the right to send contradictory messages on foreign policy,” he said in an online statement.

“The Moldovan authorities will not allow the EU association agreement to be annulled. We will not only block any attempts to denounce the agreement, but will speed up the process of its implementation,” he said.

In Moscow, Putin struck a both conciliatory and sharp tone with Dodon, saying Russia’s neighbors were free to make their own decisions and even court the EU, but Moscow would want its interests to be respected.

“It needs to be recognized that mutually beneficial ties with Russia deteriorated against the background of attempts to force a closer relationship with the European Union,” he said.

Dodon’s promise to side with Russia over the EU is in direct conflict with the stance of Moldova’s current government and his stance on the issue has been mixed since taking office.

He has called for early parliamentary elections this year to force out the government, but also said the president “should be neither pro-European nor pro-Russian”.

On Tuesday, he said Chisinau did not intend to build an “iron curtain” with the bloc.

Slideshow (4 Images)

Moldova, the poorest country in Europe, is expected to return to growth in the near future after contracting 0.5 percent in 2015. But its exports have yet to recover to pre-crisis levels, falling 4.3 percent in the first quarter of 2016.

Ukraine, another ex-Soviet republic, also played with the idea of closer ties with the EU but abruptly pulled out of a trade deal in late 2013.

The move prompted mass street protests in Kiev, forcing then-President Viktor Yanukovich from office and paving the road to Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region.</s>MOSCOW: Moldova may scrap a trade agreement with the European Union after the country's next parliamentary elections, Moldovan President Igor Dodon said on Tuesday during his first state visit to Russia.

Speaking in Moscow at a news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Dodon said it was "curious" that Moldova's trade turnover with the EU had wilted since signing a political and trade pact with the bloc in 2014.

"We gained nothing from this agreement," he told reporters.

"We are not against the EU, we have common borders, but you cannot build a relationship on anti-Russia rhetoric," news agencies quoted him as saying at a news conference held after the meeting with Putin.

Dodon was elected in November with just over 50 percent of the vote after calling in his campaign for a referendum on Moldova's relationship with the EU, which came at the expense of ties with Russia. No referendum has yet been announced.

Moscow imposed retaliatory trade restrictions on Moldovan farming exports, and Dodon's promise to improve relations with the country's former Soviet master found favour with many Moldovans who have been hit financially by the bans and a broader economic downturn.

Dodon's win and move away from the EU reflects a loss of trust in pro-European leaders in Moldova and Russia's increasingly assertive influence over ex-Soviet states.

Putin struck a conciliatory but sharp tone with his counterpart, saying Russia's neighbours were free to make their own decisions and even court the EU, but Moscow would want its interests to be respected.

"It needs to be recognised that mutually beneficial ties with Russia deteriorated against the background of attempts to force a closer relationship with the European Union," he said.

Dodon's promise to side with Russia over the EU is in direct conflict with the stance of Moldova's current government and his stance on the issue has been mixed since taking office.

He has called for early parliamentary elections this year to force out the government but also said the president "should be neither pro-European nor pro-Russian".

On Tuesday, he said Chisinau did not intend to build an "iron curtain" with the bloc.

Moldova, the poorest country in Europe, is expected to return to growth in the near future after contracting 0.5 percent in 2015. But its exports have yet to recover to pre-crisis levels, falling 4.3 percent in the first quarter of 2016.

Ukraine, another ex-Soviet republic, also played with the idea of closer ties with the EU but abruptly pulled out of the trade deal in late 2013.

The move prompted mass street protests in Kiev, forcing then President Viktor Yanukovich from office and paving the road for Moscow's annexation of Crimea.

Dodon said Moldova needed to maintain friendly relations with Ukraine and would not risk changing its position on Crimea. Previously, Moldova has said it does not recognise Russia's right to annex Crimea.</s>Moldova's President said Tuesday he hoped the ex-Soviet nation's association agreement with the European Union would be cancelled if his party obtains a parliamentary majority, paving the way for an alliance with Moscow.

Speaking after talks with President Vladimir Putin, the new Moldovan leader who won an election in November against a pro-European opponent, said he is seeking "full reestablishment" of economic cooperation with Russia because the EU deal did not bring promised trade.

Igor Dodon said after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin that Moldova "got nothing" from the agreement while losing the lucrative Russian market. He said his government could move to annul the EU pact if it gets support for such a move after 2018 parliamentary elections.

He added that Moldova also was willing to take on observer status in a Russia-dominated economic alliance.

Standing alongside Putin, Dodon said Moldova "won't repeat mistakes of the past" and will work to rebuild close ties with Russia.

The Russian leader hailed Dodon for making a trip to Moldova's breakaway Trans-Dniester region, saying it showed courage and reflected respect for the region's residents that could help settle a long-running separatist conflict.

Putin said Russia, which has its troops stationed in Trans-Dniester, could act as a mediator and a guarantor of a settlement.

Before his trip to Moscow, Dodon said he wanted closer relations with Russia. Ties between the two countries deteriorated after Moldova signed the European Union association agreement and Russia placed a trade embargo on Moldovan wine, fruit and vegetables.

Moldova, an agricultural nation of about 3.5 million located between Ukraine and Romania, exports mainly to the EU, with more than 50 percent of exports going to EU markets in 2016. Its top market is Romania.

Russia, however, has remained a major market for Moldovan workers. There are about 500,000 Moldovans working in Russia, especially in construction.</s>"I came forward with an initiative today to sign a framework memorandum on [Moldova's] cooperation with the EAEU…I asked President Vladimir Putin to consider the possibility of Moldova becoming an observer at the Eurasian Economic Commission in the EAEU," Dodon said following talks with Putin in Moscow.

Dodon stressed that Moldova's association agreement with the European Union, signed in 2014, had failed to meet the expectations and led to the loss of the country's share on the Russian market and the drop in exports volume to the EU.

"I do not rule out that following the next parliamentary elections it will be the position of the parliamentary majority…to scrap this deal, and I will support this position," the Moldovan president said..</s>Moldova’s new pro-Moscow president Igor Dodon was criticised today by the country’s prime minister Pavel Filip, after he said in Moscow, on Tuesday 17 January, that the landmark agreement bolstering ties between Moldova and the European Union was concluded “hastily” and suggested he would abandon it, paving the way for an alliance with Moscow.

Dodon, who won the presidency in November after promising better ties with Moscow amid popular discontent with the government’s pro-Western policies, was making his first trip abroad since he was sworn in as president on December 23.

Prime minister Pavel Filip reminded today Dodon that according to the Constitution the president „cannot make such statements, or take such decisions”.

Meeting with the head of Russia’s upper parliament house, Valentina Matviyenko, Dodon said on January 17 that Moldova “signed certain agreements with the EU that hastily came into force in 2014.”

He was referring to the Association Agreement that aims to create closer political ties and remove trade barriers between the EU and Moldova, a small former Soviet republic that borders EU member Romania and Ukraine.

Dodon, who met later with President Vladimir Putin, said that Moldova will seek new agreements but did not say with whom or discuss any other details.

Dodon has made conflicting statements about the Association Agreement, telling Russian media and officials he would work to scrap it while acknowledging in meetings with Western officials and reporters that he does not have the power to cancel it.

Moldova is a parliamentary republic in which the president has largely symbolic tasks, but Dodon’s legitimacy is enhanced because he is the first president in 15 years to be elected through direct voting.</s>"Much will depend on how Moldova will build its relations with the European Union, I mean the agreement on association between Moldova and the EU, which has been signed and entered into force. For us, there are certain risks here, that are similar to the risks we faced after the signing of relevant documents between Ukraine and the EU," Putin said.

Talks with Moldovan President Igor Dodon proceeded in a constructive atmosphere, as the sides identified benchmarks for further development of bilateral Russian-Moldovan relations, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday.

“The talks with the Moldovan president were held in a very constructive, I would say, friendly atmosphere, were substantial and motivated,” Putin said on the outcomes of a meeting with Dodon.

“We identified benchmarks for further development of the Russian-Moldovan cooperation. We also paid special attention to regional issues,” the president noted.

He also added that Chisinau would not erect an 'iron curtain' with the European Union but the country will not build relations with Europe based on anti-Russian rhetoric.

"We are not against the EU, we have common borders, but we cannot build relations based on anti-Russian rhetoric," Dodon said during his first official visit to Russia since inauguration in December, 2016.

On Monday, Dodon started a three-day visit to the Russian capital at the invitation of Putin. The agenda of the visit involves a number of meetings with the Russian leadership and discussions of bilateral cooperation.

Socialist Party leader Dodon secured 52.12 percent of votes in the second round of the presidential election in Moldova late in 2016, assuming office on December 23, 2016. During his election campaign, Dodon stressed the need to improve Chisinau's relations with Moscow, especially in the economic sphere, and even suggested that once he becomes the president, Moldova would hold a referendum on whether the country should withdraw from the 2014 political and trade agreement with the European Union and instead join the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union.

Never miss a story again — sign up to our Telegram channel and we'll keep you up to speed!</s>MOSCOW (Sputnik) — During his election campaign Dodon stressed the need to improve Chisinau's relations with Moscow, especially in the economic sphere, and even suggested that once he becomes president Moldova would hold a referendum on whether the country should withdraw from the 2014 political and trade agreement with the European Union and instead join the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Community.

"We do understand the geopolitical realities at this stage, we understand that there are certain agreement that Moldova hastily signed with the European Union in 2014, [we are] in favor of new agreements," Dodon said at a meeting with chairperson of Russia's Federation Council Valentina Matvienko.

Socialist Party leader Dodon secured 52.12 percent of vote in the second round of the presidential election in Moldova late in 2016, assuming office on December 23, 2016.</s>MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Tuesday, after a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Dodon expressed hope for Moldova to become an observer country at EAEU, adding that the Association Agreement with the EU "was fruitless for Moldova".

"I am sure that we will sign the framework agreement with the EAEU. It does not contradict the association agreement with the European Union," Dodon said.

In July 2014, Moldova signed Association Agreement with the European Union, under which the country has to completely open its market for European trade. Relations between Moscow and Chisinau worsened after the agreement.

On Monday, Dodon started a three-day visit to the Russian capital at the invitation of Putin. The agenda of the visit involves a number of meetings with the Russian leadership and discussions of bilateral cooperation.

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Moldovan President Igor Dodon, during his first state visit to Russia, says Moldova could scrap the 2014 Moldova–European Union Association Agreement after the country's next parliamentary election.