The Federal Foreign Minister of Germany, Johann Wadephul, who visited Chisinau on July 1st, reaffirmed Berlin’s support for the European path of the Republic of Moldova. In a statement held in the capital’s center, the German minister expressed his confidence that Moldova will find its place in the European community, reports IPN.
“Today, I came to the Republic of Moldova because, like many in Europe, I believe in Moldova’s European future. The European Union has opened its doors wide to all countries that share our values, that want to join us, that want to become members of this strong community,” declared Johann Wadephul.
According to the German official, the European Union is a community of diversity, where freedom of expression, human rights, the rule of law, and parliamentary democracy are respected. And Moldova “would be a true enrichment for the European Union”, because it is a valuable country economically and culturally, and it integrates into the diversity that defines the European Union.
“Different languages, different cultures, different religions, different opinions, and even slightly different parliamentary systems find a home under the roof of the European Union,” said the federal minister.
Johann Wadephul warned about the disinformation attempts launched by Russia, emphasizing that “in the European Union, each country can maintain its identity, customs, and traditions.”
The German official expressed his hope that the citizens of Moldova will decide to continue following the European path. “If they desire this, then they will have the support of the Federal Republic of Germany in this journey. But it is the free and sovereign decision of each country whether or not it wants to continue its approach to the European Union,” reiterated Johann Wadephul.
When asked if he will continue the Support Platform for Moldova, an initiative launched by his predecessor, Johann Wadephul confirmed that Germany’s support remains constant. “I have just made this journey, just as my predecessor made her last journey to Ukraine and here, in Moldova. I did this consciously, because I want to continue what was started and because I see a complete continuity of our policy in this regard,” Wadephul stated.
The German official stated that technical preparations for a future meeting within the Support Platform are already underway, but a decision on convening will be made based on internal developments in Moldova, especially considering the upcoming elections in September. “Voters are sovereign in all democratically governed countries and they decide how things move forward. Therefore, I believe it is right to show respect for the electoral decision here, in Moldova, and to wait to see how the people will decide,” concluded the Federal Foreign Minister of Germany.