The president of the former Soviet republic of Moldova has called on the European Union to speed up his countrys integration. Pro-Western President Nicolae Timoftis appeal came a day after he cautioned Moscow against trying to annex Moldovas breakaway region of Transnistria. Officials in the Russian-speaking region earlier reportedly appealed to lawmakers in Moscow to pass legislation that could see the area absorbed into Russia. On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a historic treaty to make Kievs breakaway region of Crimea a part of Moscow. Moldova and formerly Soviet Georgia in November initialled a watershed agreement on closer trade and political ties with the EU. They did so despite Russian pressure. 938live/ks
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 21:43:44 +0000