CHISINAU, February 2. /TASS/. The Communist party of the Moldovan opposition has put a bill on the agenda of Moldovan parliament to be discussed at its spring session opening in February, which envisages that Moldova should assert its permanent status of a neutral state and that Moldova should celebrate the coming VE-Day anniversary.
Nevertheless, the neutrality status has not been confirmed by law in Moldova, and differences over its status still remain in Moldovan political circles.
The constitution of Moldova envisages that Moldova is a neutral state and that it does not take part in any military blocs, but cooperates with NATO on the basis of an individual program of partnership, which allows Moldovan servicemen to take part in NATO peacekeeping operations.
Moldovan Prime Minister Yuri Lanke voiced his support for a neutral status for Moldova, citing the majority of the population of Moldova interviewed during sociological surveys. "Moldova has no enemies from whom it should defend itself with NATO's help. We have two neighbors — Ukraine and Romania, and they will not attack us," Lanke said. But, President of Moldova Nicolai Timofti expressed a different opinion, saying that he would have backed Moldova's accession to NATO if he were to make a final decision.
"The Barometer of Public Opinion" pollster released the results of a sociological poll conducted last April which showed that only 14% of Moldovan citizens prefer Moldova's accession to NATO as the best way to ensure security of the country, while 52% came out for a status of neutrality for Moldova, and the rest of the respondents (12%) said Moldova should join CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization).