An interview with Ambassador Mihai Gribincea for Teleradio Moldova, during the working visit of the IDC NATO team to NATO General Headquarters on November 20th.
1. The number of pro-NATO citizens has equalized with those against It – is shown in a recent survey, noting that it is an outstanding performance. The situation in Ukraine could have had an influence on dispelling the myths about NATO?
M.G. It is obvious that the annexation of Crimea and the situation in Ukraine helps to dispel many myths about NATO and increases the Alliance’s followers in the Moldovan society. If I’m not mistaken, an IMAS poll, published on 30th October of the current year, shows that 23 percent of the Moldovan population would be in favor of joining the NATO.
I would point out, however, that the annexation of Crimea and the events in eastern Ukraine not just shatters myths about NATO but also about Russia, which is equally important. After what is happening in Ukraine, the pro-Russians from Moldova and across other countries are finding it increasingly difficult to present Moscow as an “innocent dove” and the West and especially US as the root of all evil.
The effects of the events which take place in Ukraine are very interesting to observe even from within Ukraine. According to an opinion survey from September, conducted jointly by the Democratic Initiatives Foundation and the Kiev International Institute of Sociology, 44% of Ukrainians were in favor of joining NATO at that time, in comparison to only 13% in 2012.
The number of people supporting the non-aligned status of Ukraine almost halved, decreasing from 42% in 2012 to 22% in September 2014, according to the same survey.
The events in Ukraine generate discussions on the status of neutrality or non-alignment of some states. Today intense discussions regarding the neutral status of the country take place in Finland, which shares a border with a length of 1300 km with Russia. Likewise, in Sweden, a non-aligned country, where some politicians have realized that, despite EU membership and a very extensive cooperation with NATO, the Alliance has no legal obligation to defend the country in case of a possible war with Russia.
Therefore I consider that the discussions about neutrality are welcome in Moldova as well, contributing to a better public awareness of threats towards the security of the country. But it is crucial that these debates take place not only during parliamentary campaigns.
2. European integration and joining NATO are placed by some politicians in the same context. Please tell us your point of view; if Moldova would join NATO or at least requested it, then a European perspective might appear?
I think sometimes out of ignorance, other times some politicians or opinion leaders deliberately place on equal footing the EU and NATO membership. Moreover, sometimes some say that Moldova will not join the EU without first joining NATO. Obviously, such statements have no other purpose than to manipulate public opinion. There are member states of the European Union that are not part of NATO (Finland, Ireland, Malta, Austria, Sweden and Cyprus) and there are also NATO member states which are not members of the EU (Albania, Canada, Iceland, Norway, Turkey and the US).
It is obvious that if Moldova was a NATO member state it would have more chances to join the EU. And not because it is part of NATO, but because it would mean it is more prepared for EU membership. Because joining NATO also implies a level of modernization of the country, implementation of reforms and standards. And it is not just about reforms in the defense sector, but also reforms concerning the rule of law, free elections, independent judiciary system, etc. For Moldova the EU membership is not somehow conditioned by joining NATO. It is important for Moldova to implement reforms needed to modernize the economy, fight corruption and reform its judiciary, etc. Moldova may be an EU member state remaining neutral like Austria, for instance.
3. Four years ago, the Moldovan government approved The Individual Partnership Action Plan Republic of Moldova – NATO. How this plan is being implemented and how it contributes to greater security of our country?
The Individual Partnership Action Plan Republic of Moldova – NATO (IPAP) is the main instrument guiding cooperation between Republic of Moldova – NATO.
Earlier this year it was updated, and in August it was approved by the Government and published in the Official Journal on 22 August of the current year.
When updating IPAP Moldovan authorities took into account the practical measures agreed between the Allies in order to enhance cooperation between Moldova and NATO. Moldova’s main strategic objectives remain the EU integration and strengthening political dialogue and practical cooperation with Euro-Atlantic structures. In terms of its status of neutrality, Moldova, through the implementation of The Individual Partnership Action Plan, does not seek the goal of joining NATO, but intends to use the Action Plan to advance the process of reforming and modernizing the security sector and national defense in accordance with new evolutions and requirements of the current security environment. To this end, Republic of Moldova will use the necessary legal and political basis, including relevant institutional mechanisms that were created during the previous stages of implementation of IPAP. Likewise Moldova will examine opportunities to participate in new initiatives for cooperation with its partners and developed by the allies. At the same time, alongside with the implementation of IPAP, Moldova will work with EU and other international organizations actively represented in the country to ensure complementarily between IPAP, the Association Agreement EU-Moldova and the National Development Strategy.
So far we have made progress in the reformation of the political and legal basis for security and defense sector. In 2011 a new National Security Strategy was approved. In 2012 national strategy for information and communication in the field of security and defense was approved. National Military Strategy is the next one to be approved. Currently there are efforts to reform the Supreme Security Council, Security and Intelligence Service, Ministry of Internal Affairs. The main focus is upon increasing the capacity, efficiency and transparency of these institutions.
In the future we intend to deepen our cooperation with NATO in reforming and modernizing the country’s armed forces. The alliance has extensive expertise in the development of armed forces, it sets standards for Member States’ armed forces to enable them to face new challenges, therefore NATO assistance and expertise in this area is very important for our country.
Another objective for the future is to examine the possibility of developing the national capacities of defense by participating in some projects ranging from smart defense involving strengthening security with limited resources through increased cooperation and flexibility between states, unifying and sharing existing capabilities and focusing on multinational solutions.
4. Security in the region is endangered by Russian troops, by the ones which are in the Transnistrian region of Moldova and those who support pro-Russian forces in Ukraine. What might be the role of the Treaty of Conventional Forces in Europe in this situation?
The issue of the presence of Russian troops on Moldovan territory remains unfortunately unresolved. It continues to be a source of danger and threat to the national security. Unfortunately Moscow does not comply with its commitments undertaken both at bilateral level and international level to withdraw its troops from Moldova. In this context, I want to remind you that on 21 October of the current year we have reached 20 years since the signing of the Moldovan-Russian Agreement of 21 October 1994, by which Russia committed to withdraw its troops from Moldova within three years, but the Moscow has not ratified this treaty. Currently some Russian officials led by the Foreign Minister Lavrov, are trying to put the blame on Moldova for the failure to solve the Transnistrian conflict and the failure to withdraw the Russian troops from Transnistria, accusing Moldova for not signing the so-called Kozak Memorandum. In reality, things are exactly the opposite. Moscow is acting like it doesn’t remember that this memorandum was not signed by Mr. Voronin who was the president at that time, just because it stipulated the maintenance of the Russian military on the Moldovan territory until 2020.
In this context I want to highlight that the rejection by Chisinau of the “Kozak Memorandum” annoyed a lot Moscow at that time, a discontent over which even today Russia cannot get over, because the negotiation of the memorandum revealed more clearly than ever before, that the alleged PMR is only a Russia tool in the region. Smirnov and his clique, which until then declared that they only want independence for their republic, have immediately forgotten about this when he received orderders from Moscow to sign the Kozak Memorandum. Russia has “convinced” the Transnistrian leaders to accept Kozak’s plan, because it sufficiently satisfies the imperial interests in the area – the signed document would legalize the presence of Russian troops on Moldovan territory until 2020.
Concerning the CFE Treaty about which you have asked. This Treaty for Moldova is of interest because it clearly stipulates the principle “agreement of the host country for foreign forces of another state”. But unfortunately, in 2007, Russia imposed a moratorium on commitments made under the treaty and now it has to legal power. And if we consider the annexation of Crimea and the war in eastern Ukraine, I think it is naive to hope for its revival.
5. What are the benefits of the participation of the Moldovan military in the operation in Kosovo, KFOR?
As you know, the Moldovan National Army contingent has been deployed in Kosovo to join the Multinational Force (KFOR) peacekeepers deployed in this region, on the 8th of March off the current year. The contingent is composed of 41 soldiers whom operate under contract and comprises an infantry platoon, a bomb squad unit and several general staff officers.
KFOR mission is conducted in accordance with the mandate provided by resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council and led by NATO. Its objective is to contribute to strengthening peace, stability, democracy and multi-ethnic relations in Kosovo. Moldova joined the other 31 countries that contribute to KFOR, among them a number of countries are neutral, non-aligned and NATO partner such as Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Ireland, Ukraine, Armenia.
By deploying a military contingent in the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, our country has taken practical action to implement the commitments under the UN in promoting peace, stability and security on the international arena.
RM participation in KFOR has allowed our country to be included in the new formats of dialogue and cooperation between NATO member states and its partner. Mostly, for example, Moldova has been invited to attend the NATO summit in Wales in September of the current year, because it is a contributing country to KFOR. RM participation in KFOR was an important argument when the Alliance decided to include Moldova in the two new initiatives adopted at the Summit in Wales – namely the platform of interoperability and “Strengthening the defense capabilities.”
Obviously our military participation in KFOR helps to increase the level of training and professionalism.
Last but not least, RM participation in KFOR contributes to promoting a positive image of the country abroad.
6. The authorities from Chisinau have discussed with representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization about the opening of a NATO Liaison Office in Chisinau. Negotiations of the Memorandum, under which will be opened this office have begun and what does this document implies?
Earlier this year the Moldovan authorities asked NATO Alliance to open a liaison office in Chisinau. It is important to note that the opening of the office is viewed by the authorities as a part of the political dialogue, which aims to deepen the dialogue between Moldova –NATO.
The mentioned above office will be a direct communication channel between the authorities of the country with NATO, on the other hand it will help the alliance to get first-hand information about events from Moldova. In addition the presence of a Liaison Office NATO in Chisinau will help identify areas where Moldova needs support to reform its sectors of defense and security and it will help to the successful implementation of ongoing projects, including those related to “Strengthening defense capabilities.” The opening of the Office is a process that will accelerate after the parliamentary elections in Moldova. Currently there is a draft of a Memorandum for an agreement with NATO regarding this matter, and once the memorandum will be signed NATO Office will be open.