Romania's decisions on missile shied doesn’t influence START negotiations and could not influence the situation in Transnistria

Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry presented in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova’s capital, the implication’s of Romania’s decision regarding missile shield, state secretary for strategic affairs Bogdan Aurescu declared for HotNews.ro. Aurescu rejected the idea of any negative repercussions on the Transnistrian situation, since Romania’s decisions does not have the power to influence the Russian-American relationships regarding the new START agreement.

„Yesterday [February 11] I talked on the phone with my homologue Andrei Popov, Foreign Affairs vice-minister and I introduced to him the main elements of the decision Romania has taken. Plus, a Romanian delegation with vast contacts in the Romanian-Moldavian relationships is currently in Chisinau and has had made available presentation elements regarding this decision and its implications”, Aurescu said.

During the last days, several politicians from Chisinau Asked Romania for clarifications. Serafim Ungurean, one of the Alliance for European Integration leaders, indicated that „Bucharest needs to give a detailed clarification, so that people can understand the situation correctly and not encourage the authorities in Tiraspol”.

Marian Lupu, leader of the Moldavian Democratic Party and Moldova’s potential president, insisted that Romania „initiates a dialogue with the countries in the region for explanations”, and insisted that Romania’s hosting the missile shield „would not have positive effects on the Republic of Moldova; on the contrary, it raises many question marks and concern”.

The most radical of all Moldavian politicians was communist leader Vladimir Voronin, who claims that Moldova „is being transformed in a frontline, provoking Russia to take a similar decision on Transnistria”.

Everyone stating an opinion on this issue – without an official public reaction of the Government in Chisinau – made the connection between Romania hosting the missile shield and the Transnistrian record.

Bogdan Aurescu rejected the idea, arguing that the Russian-American relationship on the START agreement have not been influenced by it, therefore the Transnistrian issue cannot be either, in the slightest. „I don’t believe that such a decision can seriously have a negative effect on the Transnistrian conflict. Romania being part of such a system will not affect global relationships, like the START negotiations, therefore it will have even less impact in the Transnistrian problem”, the Romanian official stated.

Romanian state secretary for strategic foreign affairs remarked that the Moldavian authorities did not condemn Romania’s decision to take part in the American project. „I did not notice – and by this I mean the authorities entitled to speak, the Republic of Moldova’s officials – taking opposite position which condemn this decision”, he underlined.