Moldova's participation in the 81st UN General Assembly strengthens its relations with EU member states
The Republic of Moldova's participation in the 81st session of the UN General Assembly offers Chișinău a platform to promote its foreign policy, European integration, and security priorities, and to strengthen ties with international partners. Political expert Mihai Isac expressed this view on the Radio Moldova program "Paralela 47".
Our country's delegation is led by Prime Minister Vasile Tofan and Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popșoi; on the sidelines of the gathering, they held several meetings and participated in international forums focused on security and the regional situation.
"We must understand that the seeds for future meetings are sown at gatherings like these. In the coming weeks and months, we will likely see new visits initiated as a result of this week's discussions. These were targeted meetings; we have a significant diaspora in Ireland, and maintaining good relations with European Union member states—not just with Brussels—is crucial, so this is an exercise in bilateral diplomacy. Of course, there were also many unofficial contacts, and it is important to highlight these informal interactions," stated Mihai Isac during the September 25th broadcast of the "Paralela 47" program on Radio Moldova.
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Vasile Tofan met with Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin and his Dutch counterpart, Rob Jetten. The head of government also met with former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
According to Isac, these contacts are significant for strengthening the Republic of Moldova's relations with EU member states and for garnering support in areas such as security and economic cooperation.
The Moldovan delegation also participated in other international forums. Foreign Minister Mihai Popșoi attended the Crimea Platform meeting held in Washington. The analyst believes that such meetings represent opportunities to advance the Republic of Moldova's European integration path, boost economic cooperation with Western states, and garner greater support for the security sector.
"Discussions aimed at helping us advance our European integration path, increase economic cooperation with Western states, and also attract more support for the security sector," explained Mihai Isac.
This week, the Republic of Moldova also joined a joint statement signed by more than 50 UN member states, calling on the Russian Federation to implement a complete, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine and return to negotiations for a just and lasting peace. Mihai Isac noted that Chișinău's position aligns with broader European efforts to maintain diplomatic pressure on Moscow and support Ukraine.
Another topic addressed by the analyst was the security of the Republic of Moldova in the context of the war in Ukraine and recent drone incidents. Isac maintains that the risks facing the region are not limited to military threats but also include disinformation campaigns and attempts to influence political processes.
"We see how the Russian Federation is effectively escalating the war waged against us. Just a few days ago, we saw drones crash in the Republic of Moldova, while in Romania there have been injuries. We see drone terror being used against us, followed by a wave of disinformation—which is perhaps more dangerous than the drones themselves," the analyst stated.
Prime Minister Vasile Tofan is expected to address the UN podium during the general debate of the 81st session of the General Assembly. This year's gathering focuses on the transformations the international community is undergoing and on strengthening confidence in multilateral cooperation.
