Moscow - Moldova's new communist President yesterday ruled out the possibility of his impoverished former Soviet republic joining NATO or any other military organisation.
"In accordance with the Moldovan constitution, we are a neutral state and in these conditions the question of joining NATO or another military organisation does not arise," President Voronin told a press conference in Moscow.
Moldova in 1994 joined NATO's Partnership for Peace programme, often seen as a waiting-room for full alliance membership.
Mr Voronin's election on April 4th made Moldova the first former Soviet republic to return a communist as head of state since the collapse of the Soviet Union.