Meeting with Moldova President Igor Dodon

Belarus supports Moldova’s leadership on the policy of preserving national unity. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the relevant statement as he met with Moldova President Igor Dodon on 20 June.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “I thank you for this visit. After all the turbulent events I would like to congratulate you and the entire Moldovan nation, the Moldovan elite on your decently recovering from a complicated situation. While in the thick of these events you may not feel it as acutely as we do. We were worried and rooted for you.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that before meeting with the Moldovan leader he had met with Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik. “A hard destiny befell that country: they were factionalized, they didn’t understand who was trying to rule, part of the nation inclined one way, the other part the other way. Their life is very difficult,” the head of state stated. “Understanding that my next meeting would be with you, I was thinking about Moldova: you did well to preserve this unity. One cannot comprehend it now. One cannot comprehend everything when one is inside this cauldron, but one feels it more acutely from the outside. With the passage of time, when it becomes a historic record, it will be studied and comprehended. The generations that will replace ours will appreciate your preserving the unity that Moldova has now. Although it is a relative unity due to Transdniestria, nevertheless, it means a lot.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that with its confident actions the Moldovan government had demonstrated its fortitude and determination. “Just wise people,” he said. “I think on this hard road you will have to deal with a lot as the President in order to raise the living standards of the Moldovans, who count on you, to a normal level. We are contributing to it and are ready to continue this cooperation for the benefit of our nations.”

Igor Dodon came to Minsk to attend the opening ceremony of the 2nd European Games. His arrival prompted the meeting with the Belarus President. Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out: “We have a good reason: sport has always united people. I strongly wish it to contribute to overall unity in our region. But I can say about Moldova and Belarus that we are united as it is and are very close from the point of view of economy. We follow the same agenda in politics however hard the situation here and there may be.”

The Moldova President briefly talked about the events that happened in his country in the last few days. In his words, it was not a simple period of time and he had to bear the main risks.

Igor Dodon stressed that the country had been supported by greatly different foreign partners. “I don’t think there are other examples in the region where Russia, the United States, and the European Union are of the same opinion,” he pointed out. “Certainly, it is my job to support this fragile balance.”

Igor Dodon invited Aleksandr Lukashenko to visit Moldova in autumn during the grape harvesting season. “People in Moldova are waiting for you. You promised that we will harvest grape together. The situation in Moldova will stabilize in the near future, in a month or two, I think. I hope that you will visit the Republic of Moldova in autumn,” he said.