CHISINAU, July 02. /ITAR-TASS/. Moldova’s parliament has ratified the Association Agreement with the European Union.

Deputies of the ruling Pro-European Coalition and independent parliamentarians have voted for the document, signed in Brussels on June 27.

“Irrespective our political views, we have one purpose - to make Moldova a prosperous country in order to fight corruption and modernise the economy and infrastructure,” Moldova’s President Nicolae Timofti said on Wednesday.

He expressed hope that disagreements on this issue would be settled soon.

Moldova’s next step is to join the EU, he said.

The European Commission lauded the ratification of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement.

This will make it possible to launch a preliminary mechanism of the validity of the agreement in the autumn without waiting for the parliaments of 28 EU countries to ratify it, the European Commission’s spokesman, Jonathan Todd said on Wednesday.

Russian Vice-Premier Dmitry Rogozin, currently in Moldova’s breakaway Republic of Transdniestria, said Association Agreement would not benefit Moldova’s economy.

“Totally, 700,000 Moldovans work as labour migrants in Russia. These are the biggest budget revenues,” Rogozin said.

He expressed bewilderment why Moldova had signed the Association Agreement with the EU and not with Customs Union or the Eurasian Union.

Moldova signed the agreement with the EU when the society was divided. Protest actions were held in Chisinau and other cities. Protesters demanded a nationwide referendum be held.

The referendums in Transdniestria and the Gagauz autonomy proved that over 90% of residents backed rapprochement with Russian and incorporation in the Customs Union.