Moldovan president denies link between Moscow visit and election
Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin has denied allegations that his visit to Russia due on 22 June is linked to an upcoming election in Moldova, called on the EU to remove an "iron curtain" between Moldova and the EU, urged Romania to stop issuing Romanian passports to Moldovans and said his Communist party would win the election.
He was speaking in an exclusive interview with the Russian news agency ITAR-TASS on 20 June.
Voronin said his visit to Russia was not linked to the coming early parliamentary election in Moldova scheduled for 29 July.
"The election has nothing to do with this," he said.
Voronin said he would meet Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to discuss political and economic cooperation, including CIS matters, a settlement with Moldova's breakaway Dniester region, energy and wine exports.
Voronin pressed for easing EU visa procedures for Moldovans and express! ed concern about Romania's plans to speed up issuing Romanian passports to Moldovans.
"The EU should deal with the liberalization of visa procedures with the Republic of Moldova as soon as possible. An iron curtain between our country and the EU, which has been erected along the Romanian-Moldovan border, coupled with the active distribution of Romanian citizenship (to Moldovans), is a source of huge threat not only to Moldova but also to regional stability," Voronin said.
He went on to say: "Romania should not use its advantage of being an EU member to corrupt Moldovan citizens with its passports and deepen a split in our society along the Dniester."
Voronin called on Romania to sign a basic treaty and a border treaty with Moldova.
He expressed confidence that his Communist party would win the election on 29 July.
"We should do what we can for this. And we know that most citizens in our countries are currently on our! side," Voronin said, adding that the opposition was unable to present any evidence that the 5 April parliamentary election was rigged.
ITAR-TASS news agency (Russia)
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