NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday asked Russia to withdraw its troops from Moldova and criticized Moscow for continuing to pressure Chisinau through “energetic blackmail and disinformation.”
“NATO fully supports Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and we call on Russia to withdraw its troops from its territory. You can count on our help,” Stoltenberg said in a message together with Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean, with whom he met in Brussels on Thursday at the headquarters of the Atlantic Alliance.
The secretary general of the transatlantic organization was referring to the troops that Russia has stationed in the Moldovan separatist region of Transnistria.
Stoltenberg recalled that NATO and Moldova have been working together for 30 years, noting that the two sides are “deepening their partnerships” in these “very challenging” times.
“Moscow continues to exert pressure on Moldova, including through energy blackmail and disinformation, with the aim of destabilizing society and undermining democracy,” the NATO leader said.
Stoltenberg further stated that Moldova responded “resolutely”, “by condemning the US war of aggression”. [Presidente russo, Vladimir] Putin against Ukraine and by strengthening its resilience and internal security.”
The Secretary General also confirmed that at the Alliance Leaders’ Summit held in Vilnius, Lithuania, last July, Allies agreed to continue to strengthen practical and political cooperation between NATO and Moldova.
“This will also help on the path to membership of the European Union (EU),” said Stoltenberg, who thanked Moldova for its contribution to the NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo.
For his part, Dorin Recean stated that his country is determined to increase its defense capabilities.
“We are consolidating defense capabilities. The Russian war of aggression in Ukraine has triggered even greater efforts for us, together with our friends, to increase the resilience of society, the resilience of institutions, but also our defense capabilities,” assured the Prime Minister of Moldova.
Tuesday has the Moldova announced it has blocked access to more than 20 Russian media portals on the Internet as part of the fight against “disinformation” and hybrid warfare, which Chisinau accuses Moscow of waging ahead of local elections in the former Soviet republic, which borders Ukraine.
On the same day, Russia responded, describing Chisinau’s decision as “hostile”.
Source: DN
