The foreign ministers of the Weimar Triangle – Germany, France, and Poland – have announced their intention to continue providing military support to Moldova and highlighted the need to rearm its army, according to a joint communiqué from the three countries.
“We recognize that Moldova’s armed forces and other relevant services require necessary equipment and expanded capabilities to protect Moldovan territory. We will continue our assistance through cooperation in the areas of security and defense, both bilaterally and within the framework of the European Peace Fund,” the text states.
The foreign ministers noted that “EU membership is the best way for Moldova to become a modern, developed, and secure country.”
“We congratulate Moldova on the start of its EU accession negotiations… We welcome the progress already made and urge Moldova to continue on this path. To this end, we will continue to provide our assistance to ensure respect for the EU’s fundamental values, such as human rights, democracy, and the rule of law,” the statement reads.
The meeting of the foreign ministers of the three countries took place on Tuesday in Chișinău. The next presidential election in Moldova is scheduled for October 20, coinciding with a referendum on EU accession.
The referendum will pose a single question: “Do you support amending the Constitution to enable the Republic of Moldova to join the European Union?” The idea of the referendum has been criticized by civic groups and opposition forces in Moldova.
In particular, the leader of the “Victory” bloc, Ilan Shor, as well as former President and leader of the Socialist Party, Igor Dodon, former Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev, and other politicians have repeatedly stated in the media that this plebiscite is an attempt to manipulate public opinion.
The opposition believes that the referendum does not reflect the people’s aspirations but is rather a tool for the current authorities to strengthen their position ahead of the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.
