From the international viewpoint, the recognition of the unilaterally
proclaimed independence of Kosovo is creating a concrete precedent and
is providing a new powerful impulse to the struggle by Transnistria for
recognition of its independence, too, maintains the president of the
unrecognized Transnistrian Moldovan Republic, Igor Smirnov.
Last
Thursday, he attended special hearings on frozen territorial conflicts
held in the Russian State Duma. Back home, Smirnov convened a news
conference here on Tuesday, and stated, in particular, that there
exists a possibility of a dialog and of building good neighborly
relations with Chisinau, “but only as between two independent states –
the Republic of Moldova and the Transnistrian Moldovan Republic”.
“We
are striving for achieving a really fair conflict settlement, and this
is only possible on the basis of mutual respect and trust from behalf
of the conflicting sides and international mediators. Mr. Voronin used
to state he would never sit at the negotiating table. As for me, I have
always maintained readiness to negotiate with any Moldovan politician
for the Transnistrian people’s sake. When they speak of the
inviolability the border between Transnistria and Moldova, they
inevitably forget mentioning the second part: that it is necessary to
recognize the equality of the rights of the conflicting sides. Any
pressure or non-observance of earlier agreements are just
impermissible”, stressed the Transnistrian leader.
It
is his conviction that there exists only one correct way for Moldova to
solve all its economic, political and state problems, and this way is
recognition of Transnistria, for “if we miss this chance, may be there
will be no Moldova as such”.
He reaffirmed the development of
relations with the Russian Federation is the key foreign-political
priority for the Transnistrian Moldovan Republic.
Infotag
