You're reading: Moldovan president says he won’t allow country to join any military blocks

Moldovan President Igor Dodon said he will take all possible measures to preserve the country’s neutral status.
“As the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, I will take all possible measures to preserve peace in our country, reinforce the neutral status of the Republic of Moldova, and prevent the country from joining any military blocs,” Dodon said on Facebook on August 17.

The Moldovan president also said he considers a drastic reform of the defense system necessary, including the transition of military service to the contractual basis and the return of the guaranteed benefits package for servicemen, which had been abolished in 2009.

Dodon suggested discussing issues of the defense system reform at the Supreme Security Council, a meeting of which is scheduled for August 29.

“It is necessary for the state to ensure military personnel’s professional competence and proper motivation, which will provided it with a capacity to respond in emergency situations,” the Moldovan president said.