Despite protests from Moscow, Moldova's prime minister says he believes his firm pro-European stance will benefit the country's relations with both the West and Russia in the long term.
Iurie Leanca said that Moldova's entry into an association agreement with the European Union on Friday will make it a "more predictable country which is good for our partners in the West and … in the East."
He said his government had been clear it intended to move closer to the EU since 2009 when it came to power, unlike the former government in Ukraine which backed out of a decision to sign the same agreement in November.
In the past, Russia has taken punitive trade measures against neighboring Baltic states and Ukraine as those countries sought closer ties with the West.
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