DISINFO: Moldovan President - the only President not invited to the EaP Summit
SUMMARY
Igor Dodon became the only one of the six Presidents of the EaP member countries who had not been invited to the Brussels Summit. Moldova was represented at the forum by Prime Minister Pavel Filip. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko refused to go to Brussels and sent his minister of foreign affairs to the Eastern Partnership Summit. The other 4 delegations were led by the Presidents of the EaP countries concerned.
RESPONSE
The invitations to the Eastern Partnership Summit on 24 November in Brussels were sent to the Heads of State or Government of all six partner countries and of European Union Member States, signed by President of the European Council Donald Tusk and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and Prime Minister of Estonia (holding the presidency of the Council of the EU over the second half of 2017) Jüri Ratas. The choice of addressee was based on the constitutional responsibilities in the countries concerned. In Georgia and the Republic of Moldova, foreign policy largely pertains to the responsibilities of Prime Ministers, while in the other four partner countries it largely rests with the Presidents.