CHISINAU, October 20 (RIA Novosti) — Close ties with NATO will result in the collapse of Moldova, Igor Dodon, the leader of the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM), told RIA Novosti Monday.
"PSRM has constantly warned the authorities of the country that the reckless drive to seek close ties with NATO would not only lead to the loss of Transnistria, but also to the creation, with high probability, of a conflict situation in the Gagauz autonomy as well as in the north of the republic," Dodon said.
The official underlined that the pro-European coalition and government of the country is following the Ukrainian scenario, "without consulting the public what geopolitical vector it should choose".
"[Moldovan Prime Minister Lurie] Leanca is going in the dangerous way, which can lead Moldova to a catastrophe. Just as Yanukovych did last year, Leanca acts without consulting the people when it signed the agreement with the EU without any referendum," Dodon added.
Dodon believes that Leanca may lose its prime-ministerial post like Viktor Yanukovych lost its presidential status in Ukraine.
The official also hoped that the situation would change as a result of the upcoming parliamentary elections, which are slated for November 30.
Dodon's statements follow earlier statements by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who said that the people of Transnistria would have the full right to decide their future independently if Moldova changed its military-political status from neutral to bloc.
According to Lavrov, Transnistria, with its current status, cannot enter either the Customs Union or the Eurasian Economic Union. However, according to the memorandum of 1997, Transnistria has the right to free external trade activities, meaning that it also has the right to unimpeded trade as well as investment relations with Russia and Europe.
