 | DOES SIZE MATTER? Only if a country is too small to stand on its own. Here, we compare PMR with others around the world. [more] |  | | |  | WHAT ON EARTH IS THIS? Pridnestrovie claims it is a state. But opponents of independence say it isn't. We report, you decide. [more] |
| ||||||
EU spokesman sees openness in Transdniester's civil society
Transdniester is not a closed dictatorship, says EU representative Kalman Mizsei. Speaking to the foreign ministry of Romania, he confirmed that there is openness and a plurality of opinions among civil society in Transdniester. An earlier OSCE-funded report had already reached the same conclusions. 
Kalman Mizsei, EU's Special Representative, has high hopes for civil society in PridnestrovieBUCHAREST (Tiraspol Times) - According to EU's expert in the region, Transdniester has a wide variety of opinions which are represented in a pluralistic civil society made up of numerous NGOs.
EU Special Representative Kalman Mitzei sees openness in Transdniester's civil society and broad variety of NGOs.
" - Transdniester is not a closed dictatorship, it is structured society, there is a plurality of viewpoints and intentions," says the European Union official.
His statements came during a conference in Romania dealing with the role of civil society and security issues in the Black Sea region. The conference, which was organized by the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Crisis Management Initiative, included EU's Kalman Mizsei and the Foreign Minister of Romania, Adrian Cioroianu.
According to Romanian news agency Mediafax, Mizsei stressed the importance of dialogue between civil society in both Moldova and Transdniester as a way to settle the conflict in the region.
- Making Moldova attractive to Transdniestria
" - Transdniestria was isolated in 1992," said Mizsei, not adding that in 1992 Moldovan troops crossed the Dniester river and attacked Transdniester in an effort to enforce its territorial claim. After an estimated 100,000 people had been made refugees, and more than one thousand locals died, peacekeeping troops stepped in to separate the two sides and stop Moldova's indiscrimate killings of civilians. Transdniester never had any designs on Moldova, and never allowed its fighters to cross into territory controlled by Moldova. All the fighting took place in Transdniester after Moldova initiated the attacks.
" - Efforts were undertaken for solving the conflict, but they were insufficient," added Kalman Mizsei. "We hope that this conflict will not be prolonged for another 15 years."
He added that for Moldova, "which is a small country, integration is vitally important. The first task should be to strengthen integration with the European Union."
Mizsei also noted that from his point of view, the coming months will be "very active."
" - European integration is helping Moldova appear more attractive to Transdniestria. And, in a certain way, to attract it to a stronger integration. This is part of our strategy relative to integration, "added Mizsei.
- OSCE-funded report on Trandniester's civil society
In February, a report was released with the support of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) that mapped out the role played by civil society in the democratic transformation of Transdniester.
A vibrant, active civil society exists in Transdniester in a new climate of political freedom, concluded the OSCE-financed catalog which analyzed the current state of local NGOs.
It affirmed that political freedom is alive and well in Transdniester, with a growing civil sector and an active plurality of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) active within the unrecognized country.
Moldova refused to recognize the findings as valid.
See also:
» OSCE-supported study points to vibrant, active civil society
» Transnistria: Sovereignty in Multi-Track Diplomacy
» Transdnestr future to be decided by its people, says Parliament
Moldova Parliament Speaker Marian Lupu met with the Speaker of Transdniestria's Parliament Yevgeny Shevchuk in Brussels on Wednesday. Yevgeny Shevchuk had been invited to the Belgian capital by the European Union. On Thursday he is expected to address a conference at the European Parliament about 'de facto' independent states. . . 
