“The Republic of Moldova does not recognize the Taliban regime. The approval of this visit was the result of a misjudgment and a lack of interagency coordination. A Moldovan company that already supplies goods to Uzbekistan sought support to expand its exports of agricultural products to Afghanistan. Such exports are not prohibited by the European Union’s sanctions regime,” said Vasile Tofan.
The Prime Minister noted that the delegation members were not on any international sanctions lists, and that the relevant agencies acted in accordance with established procedures when reviewing the request and issuing visas.
“The procedure was followed formally, but without the necessary political and diplomatic assessment. Clearly, a sensitive case was treated as a routine administrative matter. As a result, an erroneous decision was made. Government mechanisms cannot be reduced to merely following procedural steps. Agencies must take into account the context, risks, and consequences of the decisions they make,” the prime minister emphasized.
Vasile Tofan stated that the authorities will review coordination and consultation mechanisms, including procedures for involving relevant agencies in cases of political and diplomatic sensitivity.
Earlier, it was reported that Moldova had issued visas to a delegation from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Agriculture. The authorities emphasized that this does not imply recognition of the Taliban government. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the visit was related to discussions on the possibility of “humanitarian agricultural exports” to Afghanistan, which is facing serious food security challenges.
The government ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the issuance of invitations and entry visas, as well as a review of internal procedures applied in such situations.
The authorities’ statements followed reports in the Afghan media about the arrival in Moldova of a delegation from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock. The delegation planned to discuss cooperation in the fields of agriculture, agricultural research, plant protection, and the adoption of modern technologies. The visit was scheduled to last until August 7.
