In Moldova’s newly convened parliament, there will no longer be friendship groups with Russia and Belarus, Vice-Speaker Doina Gherman announced, as reported by NewsMaker.
According to her, the decision was made by the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee due to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Gherman noted that friendship groups are important for developing parliamentary ties, but they can only be established with friendly countries. She explained that Moldova is ready to maintain relations only with states that respect the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of other countries, and that value human dignity and freedom.
The Vice-Speaker added that the Moldovan parliament currently has friendship groups with the parliaments of 54 countries. She emphasized that Moldova remains a peaceful country with many friends, and that these groups help strengthen dialogue, cooperation, and trust between peoples.
Meanwhile, the leader of the Socialist Party, Igor Dodon, criticized the exclusion of Russia and Belarus from the list of countries for which friendship groups are created. He called it an unprecedented decision in all the years of Moldova’s independence.
