Moldovan PM says prepared to lead next government, start deep reforms

Chisinau, 27 November /MOLDPRES/ - A prestigious French publication, "Politique Internationale," has published an interview with Prime Minister Iurie Leanca. The Moldovan official answered questions by journalist Regis Gente on the advantages of the European integration and relations with Russia, attitude of the society and political parties towards the country's external orientation, conflict in Ukraine and the way this affects Moldova, as well as the political situation before the polls due on 30 November, the government's communication and media relations department has reported.   

Iurie Leanca said he was prepared to lead the future government, if asked to do this, and the greatest obstacle he was facing in his work was the mentality. "As for the fight against corruption, it is necessary to change the Moldovans' state of mind. In this respect, we rely on the support of the European Union, including through a mission of European judges in Moldova. After the elections, we will commit to carry out deep reforms in more sectors. We have the chance to get a true parliamentary system, with political parties managing to work together and find compromises. We gain more and more political maturity," the prime minister said. 

Iurie Leanca insisted that the accession to the European Union was a project on the country's modernisation, having no alternative. "The experience of the East and West proves best of all that the European integration is the best way of development, re-establishing the society's confidence and reformation of justice. This Association Agreement is not just in the interest of the Moldovan society, but also in the interest of the entire Europe. Thanks to this, Moldova will become more prosperous and more stable. For the time being, we cannot cope with all the requirements of the accession, but on the day when Moldova become a candidate country, the reforms will become irreversible. The security will be consolidated. I must say that this Agreement was not signed against Russia. A stable and predictable Moldova is in the interest of Moscow as well. We have close historical relations   with Russia, yet they are not weaker with Europe, including France. The signing of this agreement was just as a return to the great European family, we belong to culturally and geographically," Iurie Leanca. 

The prime minister also spoke about the way Moldova's rapprochement with the European Union would contribute to the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict. "More than 70 per cent of the products from the Transnistrian region are meant for the Moldovan and European markets. The entrepreneurs from the eastern region are interested in the free trade regime of Moldova with the European Union. They understood that this is to their advantage. We will count on these factors in order to reintegrate our territory."

The prime minister referred to the situation in Ukraine too. He said this affects the Moldovan economy, but especially the state of spirit of the citizens, who had been witnesses of a war on the territory of their own country 20 years ago. "We share a border of 1,242 km with Ukraine. For a small country like Moldova, this is a lot. There is also the psychological effect of an armed crisis in the immediate neighbourhood. Conflicts took place in Odessa, just 30 km far from our southern frontier. There is also another aspect - the one of a protracted conflict on the territory of our own country - the Transnistrian one and this makes us even more sensible to what is happening in Ukraine," Iurie Leanca said in the interview given to the magazine "Politique Internationale."