Moldova will increase investments and spending to strengthen the defense and security sector.
This was stated by the country's President Maia Sandu, presenting the draft of the new National Security Strategy after a meeting of the Supreme Security Council. She emphasized that a strong defense and national security sector is necessary to ensure economic growth and development of the national economy. “We will not be able to convince Moldovans to open businesses here, we will not be able to attract quality investments that will create well-paid jobs here, we will not be able to find resources to modernize roads, bridges, railways, the airport and the entire national infrastructure if this is not done, we must ensure the safety of these initiatives. People will invest and grow the economy when they feel secure. We need peace and security to be able to plan, build, invest and reap the fruits of our labor,” the head of state noted. Maia Sandu pointed out that every citizen also needs security, because otherwise our citizens will emigrate to countries that they consider safe. “It has a negative impact on the economy, a negative impact on our society. The security budget must be increased because it is a necessary investment that will benefit everyone. To deter external aggression and ensure its national security, Moldova needs a modern army, equipped, well trained and capable of acting together with external partners,” said the head of state. She noted that neutrality does not mean passivity and helplessness. “On the contrary, it forces us to build up our defense capabilities, to develop a highly effective army that citizens can rely on and be proud of. We will also strengthen the civil security sector to ensure that the institutions that are supposed to protect us focus on the needs of citizens first. Today it seems to us that these things are very expensive. But we are already - right now - losing tens and hundreds of millions of investments precisely because we do not have a defense sector developed in the context of Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine, as well as hybrid aggression within the country. You know very well that we will pay any price if we lose peace. It is rational and responsible today to shoulder these costs, with the help of partner countries, in order to protect our children, our parents, our families. Life is priceless, and to protect life, we must be vigilant and prepared,” the head of state said. She called the second important direction of the National Security Strategy the achievement of a peaceful settlement of the Transnistrian conflict with the withdrawal of Russian troops and the gradual, peaceful reintegration of the Transnistrian region into the legal, economic and political space of Moldova. The president identified other important areas of the National Security Strategy as developing security partnerships with the most developed and prosperous democratic countries in the world, strengthening the fight against corruption and creating strong institutions to ensure compliance with the law, as well as promoting regional and international security. “We must behave like a de facto member state of the European Union. Specifically, this means that we will continue to participate in the European “Corridors of Solidarity” initiative, thereby contributing to the economic sustainability of Moldova and Ukraine and global food security. We will continue to send rescue teams to help other countries affected by fires and other natural disasters. We will continue to participate in EU civilian crisis management missions, contributing to stability in the EU's neighboring countries. Our country will join the EU program to combat climate change. We are strong and secure not only when we wait and receive help, but also when we contribute to peace and security on the European continent,” said Maia Sandu. According to her, Moldova must also prepare for numerous global risks, such as climate change, pandemics and natural disasters, and the use of new technologies for harmful purposes. “We must be able to manage all these risks to protect our citizens in a changing world. These are the topics and directions of action that we proposed in the national security strategy. Just as we discuss everyday dangers in our families and how we can protect ourselves from them, it is also important to have ongoing discussions in society about the dangers that threaten us and what institutions and citizens should do to protect our safety. Lasting security, peace and prosperity of Moldova can only be ensured through the joint and sustained efforts of government institutions, civil society, the private sector and all citizens, both within the country and in the diaspora. We are launching a public consultation phase to ensure a common understanding of the dangers and decisions affecting national security and the safety of every citizen. The future of our children, the future of our country depends on what we do now. We will no longer be passive, we will no longer put up with the day when we helplessly say: “it’s too late,” said the President of the Republic of Moldova. “The peace and well-being of our children is in our hands. Let's unite our efforts - state institutions, civil society, citizens, so that from a small and fragile country we become a strong, modern, sustainable and European state, capable of taking care of its citizens, which guarantees the residents of Moldova security at home and is treated with respect in every point in the world,” emphasized Maia Sandu. // 11.10.2023 — InfoMarket.
