Russia Urges West to Label Romania's Moldova Unification Plans as 'Annexation'

MOSCOW, June 25. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova advised the West to apply the term "annexation" to Romania's intention to absorb Moldova.

Commenting on the Romanian Chamber of Deputies' (lower house of parliament) adoption of a draft law on the unification of Romania and Moldova, Zakharova said that Bucharest has long been hatching plans related to the absorption of Moldova, even as there is no unanimity on this issue in the Romanian government.

"What kind of association is this? Unification presupposes mutual aspiration, and most importantly, probably, a plebiscite. That's what unification is. And when it comes to a takeover, that's what you should call it," the diplomat said.

"Speaking figuratively, of course, in the general consciousness, this is exactly what annexation looks like. And since this word ‘annexation’ is constantly being heard in the Western press, in Brussels, in the European Parliament without an appropriate legal basis for our country - and I remind you, all decisions on the reunification of the relevant territories and regions were carried out solely on the basis of the will of the people, which took place in accordance with the law and under international supervision - so if they use this term ‘annexation’ so maybe they will apply it the same way in relation to a situation that definitely has every reason for such a qualification."

Zakharova pointed to the fact that the opinion of Moldovans, as usual, is openly ignored.

"After all, it would be worthwhile to first ask them if they want this very notorious association, in fact, a takeover. Indeed, the memories of the difficult period of the Romanian occupation of Bessarabia from 1918 to 1940 are still alive in the memory of the older generation there. Not to mention that such a step is unlikely to help break the deadlock on the Transnistrian issue," she noted.

After the collapse of the USSR, Moldova declared independence, but neighboring Romania consider its territory to be part of their country and promote the idea of unification. Bucharest supports political parties that are campaigning for a policy of unification with Chisinau with the tacit consent of the Moldovan government.

Earlier, Russian ambassador to Bucharest Vladimir Lipayev said in an interview with TASS that the majority of Moldovans do not support unification with Romania.