CHISINAU -- A leading Moldovan official has said his country should have a different status than the other five Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in the European Union's Eastern Partnership program.
Talking to RFE/RL's Moldovan service, the chairman of Moldova's outgoing parliament, Marian Lupu, said that Moldova is "more advanced" in its European integration than Armenia or Azerbaijan and should not wait for EU admission until those countries are ready.
Lupu, who is considered a possible future Moldovan president, said all six CIS members (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine) could not be expected to move toward the EU at the same speed and that Moldova will be ready much sooner than others.
The European Union is expected to formally invite the six to join the new initiative at a Prague summit on May 7.