Opening Of NATO Liaison Office In Chisinau Contradicts Moldova's Interests - President

Opening of NATO Liaison Office in Chisinau Contradicts Moldova's Interests - President

The opening of the NATO Liaison Office in Moldova's capital of Chisinau goes against the country's interests, Moldovan President Igor Dodon said on Thursday.

CHISINAU (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 20th December, 2018) The opening of the NATO Liaison Office in Moldova's capital of Chisinau goes against the country's interests, Moldovan President Igor Dodon said on Thursday.

"The opening of the NATO Liaison Office in Moldova is contrary to the interests of the country, it is contrary to the principle of neutrality of Moldova, which must be respected in a mandatory manner. Moldova should pursue a balanced foreign policy, " Dodon said at a press conference.

Chisinau needs to maintain good relations both with the West and the East, the president underlined.

"The presidential administration has developed a draft foreign policy strategy, which is based on pursuing a balanced foreign policy. My advisers and I have presented this document in Moscow, Vienna, Brussels, Washington and Berlin, and in these countries our position has been supported, " Dodon added.

Moldova is a neutral country but it joined the NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) program in 1994. NATO opened a civilian Liaison Office in Chisinau at the Moldovan request in 2017.

Some 60 percent of Moldovan citizens would vote against Moldova's accession to NATO in the event of a national referendum, a poll by the Moldovan National Association of Sociologists and Demographists showed last week.