CHISINAU, May 7. /TASS/. A strong Russia led by a strong leader is necessary to achieve peace around the globe, Moldovan President Igor Dodon told TASS commenting on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inauguration ceremony held on Monday.
"A strong Russia led by a strong President Vladimir Putin is necessary to ensure peace around the globe where more and more conflicts have emerged recently and tensions are rising," Dodon said. He recalled that in recent decades alone wars had been unleashed in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and many other countries.
Moldova’s president stressed that "Western politicians used to blame the USSR for these misfortunes, in fact [US President Ronald] Reagan even dubbed it ‘the evil empire.’ However, after the world actually became unipolar in the 1990s, wars did not disappear. On the contrary, they continued unabated," he pointed out. According to Dodon, the West was not particularly enthusiastic about Russia’s return to the international stage with the advent of Putin, who began to actively uphold its legitimate interests. Yet, that offered hope that peace was possible.
"The policy pursued by the Russian president offers hope that, instead of brute force that some countries are often banking on now, politicians will begin to resolve disagreements at the negotiating table," Dodon noted. He stressed that Moldova is interested in dialogue between Russia and the West and was hopeful that the current geopolitical standoff could come to an end after Putin assumed office.
He also hoped that Russia and the West would be able to reach a consensus, since nothing good will come out of the current confrontation. "Moldova is interested in that, as we want to develop relations with Russia, the EU and the US. We need that in order to tackle the pressing Transnistrian issue," Dodon emphasized, adding that "resolving the Transnistrian problem can serve as a good example for cooperation between Moscow and the West."
On Monday, May 7, 2018, Vladimir Putin officially assumed office as Russia’s president for his fourth term, which will expire on May 7, 2024. He first took office in 2000, having served two terms until 2008 when Dmitry Medvedev was elected the nation’s head of state. In 2012, Putin again got the opportunity to run for the presidency and, after winning the presidential race, he became the first head of state whose term of office lasts for six years.