CHIŞINĂU (Imedia) - Moldova will not be part of the military parade scheduled in Moscow on May 9, which will mark the 65-year anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union in World War II.

Defense Ministry spokesman Alexandru Josan said Moldova will not participate because of financial problems and because its military officials will attend May 9 ceremonies in Chisinau.

Mr. Josan added that a trip to Moscow would cost 400,000 lei (about 40,000 dollars), which the ministry does not have because its budget has been cut by a few million lei compared to last year.

The Russian Defense Ministry has already been notified about Chisinau's decision.

Moldova will only be represented in Moscow on May 9 by interim President Mihai Ghimpu, who will attend the ceremonies and will take part in the summit of the heads of state from the Commonwealth of Independent States on May 8.

Commentary:

Andrei Safonov: Moscow thinks that many Moldovan authorities want unification with Romania

Andrei Safonov, a Transnistrian analyst, says that „what happened after Chisinau's refusal to attend the Victory Parade may not lead to a diplomatic scandal, like media outlets have written, but will more likely offer Russian authorities an opportunity to be more critical toward Chisinau."

„As is well known, beginning in the fall of last year, ties between Moldova and Russia initially became more complicated and then visibly worsened because Moscow thinks that many Moldovan authorities want unification with Romania and want to integrate the country gradually into Romania.

In this case, judging by Russian media outlets, the refusal to attend the parade has already been defined as an action coordinated with Bucharest, whose authorities were not invited to participate in the parade because, as is well-known, in the first part of the Second World War the Romanian army fought with the Germans. In any case, the consequences of Chisinau's refusal will have two aspects.

First, Moldovan-Russian ties will continue to become more complicated. Second, Russia will support Transnistria more intensely.

These consequences will remain at least until Moldova elects a new legislature," Mr. Safonov predicts.

Igor Munteanu: The Soviet soldier is not associated by the entire Moldovan population as a liberator

Igor Munteanu, executive director of the Viitorul Institute for Development and Social Initiatives, thinks that „Moldova should not try to make everyone happy, just like it has in the past."

„I have noticed a number of electoral and political interpretations about this subject, but the real problem has been avoided. The problem is that May 9 is not celebrated unequivocally in the rest of Europe.

This date is rather ambivalent because of the effects it created after World War II, because of the expansion of the Soviet regime and the fact that the Soviet soldier is not associated by the entire Moldovan population as a liberator.

From this standpoint, I think that the Government should firmly explain the reason why it is participating more modestly in the manifestations in Moscow - economic problems and ambivalence.

That is how the population feels and that is the answer a responsible Government should give to everyone, including to its foreign partners. The hysterical reaction of the Party of Communists is lachrymose and electoral and should not convince authorities in Chisinau to make disproportional concessions, with the negative effects an obedient participation during every parade in Moscow would have," Mr. Munteanu argues.

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The military parade in Moscow will be attended by military staff from Russia, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Poland, and other representatives from the CIS, whose people have fought against Nazi Germany in the Second World War.

Until now, only Moldova has officially announced that it will not be sending its military to Moscow. Uzbekistan has not yet provided an answer, and Turkmenistan has asked that the head of its guard of honor attend the parade on horseback, which has been rejected by Russia as unacceptable.

The other countries have confirmed their participation.

The Communist opposition has expressed its „decisive protest" regarding the refusal of Chisinau to attend the military parade in Moscow. A statement from the Party of Communists said that this refusal „is proof of a new attempt to revise history and a desire to diminish the role of the victory over fascism."

Members of the ruling Alliance for European Integration (AEI) have also reacted differently.

Democratic Party head Marian Lupu said that the Moldovan military should attend the parade. „This is logical, natural, and normal, considering the fact that the U.S., France, and the U.K. are participating, and considering the fact that Moldovan leaders will be in Moscow at this time," Mr. Lupu added.  

Moldova Noastra [Our Moldova] Alliance deputy head Victor Osipov says that „we should not be issuing separate opinions regarding participation in this event. We should find a solution. The refusal to participate is causing reactions that would cost more diplomatically."

Deputy Liberal Democratic Party head Mihai Godea noted that he supports the Defense Ministry's position from a financial standpoint, but noted that the funds could have been found. Mr. Godea noted that the parade could have been attended by a small group of military staff instead of a platoon in order to prevent Chisinau from being accused of refusing to go.