The typhoon that hit Tokyo and the surrounding areas last week was still brewing, when Moldova’s President left for Japan, taking with him his entire family, including his brother’s family, as well as two officials from the Presidency. 

He and his wife got an invitation to the coronation ceremony of Emperor Naruhito. The event was attended by 150 heads of states from all parts of the world, but none, however, brought their close relatives with them.

Igor Dodon prepared for the visit to Japan most thoroughly. He ordered a tux, a few umbrellas (probably scared by the violent storm), and a few bow ties for himself. He also took care of his wife’s apparel, dressed up his children and gave lessons of etiquette to his other relatives – members of the official delegation composed of 11 persons. 

Of course, Emperor Naruhito had no idea that on the occasion of his coronation event the head of a very small, poor and weak state, would come to Japan along with as many as 11 persons. He might never learn about it, because the world is huge, and Moldova – so small. 

Nobody’s questioning whether or not the head of the state should honor the invitation of the Japanese Emperor, especially since Moldova and Japan have established diplomatic relations for nearly three decades. The question is about how much of the state budget money was spent on this trip, expenses that the Presidency has not released yet. 

In fact, the day President Dodon was in Japan, the Government made public all travel expenses incurred by the Executive in the last years. They revealed information related to destinations, events, number and names of participants. It is true, there is no analysis of the efficiency of these trips, but, hopefully, this is to follow.

President Dodon’s costly visit to Japan, covered by large, undisclosed amounts of money, has left an impression. 

A curious episode might be the one in which the head of the state grasped his “borsetka” (a handbag for men in Russian), descended from a diplomatic car, with the Moldovan flag on the windshield and, leaving his wife in the car, headed for the ones who were waiting to meet them at the gates of an official institution. 

After a few moments, his spouse joined him. It’s a matter of simple diplomatic etiquette, but probably  too difficult for Igor Dodon to respect.

Another amusing detail was Igor Dodon’s meeting in Tokyo with the Prime Minister of Serbia to discuss the Moldovan-Serbian bilateral relations. They had to come to Tokyo, in order to declare “unanimous in the opinion that there is a huge potential unexplored in the commercial-economic field…”

At another meeting, with the mayor of Tomi city, Dodon welcomed the City Hall’s intention to make a donation of 100 sakura saplings to Moldova next spring, to mark the 100-day countdown to the start of the Olympics. 

Note that, in 2017, Tomi was registered as the host city for Moldova’s team at the Olympic Games in the summer of 2020.

The bilateral diplomatic relations between Moldova and Japan were established in 1992. Since then, Tokyo has provided Moldova with financial assistance worth over $150 million, the money being destined mainly for agriculture, regional development and ecology.

At the same time, there are 13 companies currently active in Moldova with Japanese capital, with investments worth over $6.5 million (115 million lei). 

How did the head of the state respond to the hospitality and openness of the Japanese authorities?

As mentioned above, the visit took place when Japan was shattered by the biggest storm over the last 60 years, causing considerable human loss and material damage. 

When Dodon headed so vigorously for the official headquarters, leaving his wife in the car and carrying a “borsetka” in his hands, I thought he had a bank check there, some evidence of any donation, even symbolic, offered by Moldova to the Japanese people, plagued by the storm. However, “Borsetka” probably had a completely different purpose.

As a matter of fact, in Tomi, when the mayor donated the 100 sakura saplings, Igor Dodon offered a selection of high-quality wines, with his autograph, to be auctioned, and the raised funds to be directed to overcome the consequences of the Hagibis typhoon.

Four persons  died and another 17 are missing after a strongest typhoon struck Japan, paralyzing Tokyo, causing floods that led to the evacuation of millions of people.

Mr Dodon, what can be done with the few bottles of select wine that have yet to be be auctioned? What of our donation, if no buyers want to buy them?

Aneta Grosu, aneta@zdg.md