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Moldova has proportionate response to Russian trade restrictions — PM

Chisinau is going to demonstrate that "it is pointless to use restrictive measures, as well as trade and economic pressure"

CHISINAU, August 4. /TASS/. Moldova has a proportionate response to the trade restrictions imposed by Russia, the country’s Prime Minister Valeriu Strelet said during interview with the Romanian newspaper Adevarul published on Tuesday.

"So far we have unused tools such as balanced action. We have not lodged claims concerning the quality of products imported from Russia," said the head of the Cabinet endorsed on July 30. He noted that, if Russia’s embargo is maintained, "we may possibly take similar steps."

Strelet spoke in favor of dialogue with Russia, adding that Chisinau was going to demonstrate that "it is pointless to use restrictive measures, as well as trade and economic pressure, to change the strategic vector along which we have reached considerable progress, and which we do not intend to change."

"European integration is a national priority for Moldova. This needs to be clarified. The Free Trade Agreement [with the EU] carries no risks for the Russian market. The European goods will not get to the Russian market via Moldova," he said.

In addition to restoring relations with Russia, Strelet’s Cabinet has set a goal for Moldova’s harmonization with the European Union to obtain the status of a candidate country and pursue facilitation of dialogue with the United States and Romania.