National Defence committee  The provision in the constitution about the neutrality of Moldova has been only just discussed. The then government or the president, especially, the former chair of the Communist Party of Moldova at that time, even made a move to reduce the numbers of the National Army, claiming

National Defence committee  Absolutely. We conduct common training exercises, very often under the U.S. command or under NATO command. When these exercises are being conducted in the region, Moldova's always a part of them, along with the Ukrainians and Georgians.

National Defence committee  Yes. Before becoming part of the Russian empire, history shows that the biggest share of the population in that region were Moldovans and the second-biggest were Ukrainians. You know that Moldova belongs to the, let's say, Latin world. We speak a language that makes us part of th

National Defence committee  Yes, they still persist and don't forget another thing. The Moldovans are the biggest ethnic minority in Transnistria, but the other two, the Ukrainians and Russians, together make up the Russian-speaking population and outnumber the Moldovans.

National Defence committee  I told you that we are very interested in training and equipping our national army to make it a professional army in which soldiers would will only be recruited on a contractual basis. We are also very much interested in equipping to participate more efficiently in international

National Defence committee  Yes, absolutely, especially, as I told you, about gas. We very much depend on gas imports. Actually, 100% of the gas in Moldova is imported. In terms of the electrical energy, we are capable of producing only 20% of our electrical energy. This comes from the plant that is situa

National Defence committee  So far I mentioned to you that we have this agreement at the level of, let's say, the parliamentary dimension. Yes, we are co-operating very well in the intelligence services, and border and customs services among the three countries, although we don't have a direct common border

National Defence committee  I know. I've been knocking at the door of the Canadian government to connect Moldovans as well to these projects.

National Defence committee  Absolutely. We conduct—

National Defence committee  You will see everywhere Soviet-style architecture and monuments to Vladimir Lenin all over the country. If you travel to Transnistria, you will find yourself in the former Soviet Union, and there are Russian flags with the red flag of Transnistria. You will see that there are man

National Defence committee  Oh, no. Well, it is a very corrupt system run by oligarchs, unfortunately. There are clearly interests in Transnistria from Russian businesses, especially because they have a metallurgical steel factory that used to have a significant share in the overall Moldovan economy. Before

National Defence committee  Maybe I gave you too many details, but I hope you understand how it all works. The energy sector is a leverage. By the way, we are trying now to diversify our market of energy supplies, and we are building a gas pipeline to connect Romania with Moldova so that we at least become

National Defence committee  Absolutely, at all levels.

National Defence committee  We not only have the Transnistrian segment of the border where we used to have problems, but the entire length of the border is more than 1,000 kilometres, all in all, so of course we are travelling.

National Defence committee  We are not allowed in the Transnistria region, and we do not cross the border along this Transnistria segment as it is.