Romania Vows Support for Moldova Under New President

In the wake of the election of Moldova's Eurosceptic new leader, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday that Bucharest's objective continues to be Moldova's European integration and the consolidation of its democracy.

"Our strategic objective is Moldova's European integration, supporting its clear orientation towards the EU and connecting Chisinau to Europe, as it becomes a solid democracy; it is a process in which Romania can and should play a main role," Iohannis said.

He was speaking after a National Defence Council meeting - the first high level foreign policy event in Bucharest after Moldovans elected Socialist president Igor Dodon on November 13.

Dodon has spoken in favour of Moldova pulling out of its Association Agreement with the EU, which Romania has been supporting for years, and is also an advocate for rapprochement with Moscow.

The National Defence Council decided to set up a working group at government level meant to oversee the implementation of a strategy on future relations with Moldova.

Iohannis said that the new Moldova strategy is meant to be pragmatic, based on the current complicated context in Europe and the unstable political environment in Chisinau.

His comments came after new Moldovan president Dodon said in an interview with Romanian public television on Friday that he resents Bucharest politicians' elder-brotherly attitude towards their Chisinau counterparts.

"We're neighbours, we've got historical ties, we're brothers. But each brother should only be king in his own house. I respect the Romanian state and I want Romania to respect the Moldovan state," Dodon said.

However, he said that as president, he cannot break off the Association Agreement with the EU, no matter how...