 | KISSINGER says negotiations will only succeed if they reflect an objective reality. For Moldova and Pridnestrovie, it means both must face the facts on the ground. [more] |  | | |  | NEVER A NATION, the Moldavian SSR was always just an administrative entity within the Soviet Union. Today, it has effectively broken in two. [more] |
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Transdniester and Kosovo should be treated the same, says Putin
Vladimir Putin wants a universal approach to Kosovo status resolution. It should apply to Transdniester and other unrecognized countries on the post-Soviet space, says the Russian President. He points out that for more than 15 years, these areas have functioned in all practical effects as separate, already-independent countries.
Vladimir Putin, Russia's president: "There are no reasons to think that Kosovo is different from the situation in Transdniester"MOSCOW (Tiraspol Times) - Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree that Kosovo is any different Transdniester or other unrecognized countries located on the territory of the former Soviet Union.
" - Our partners' claims that Kosovo is a unique case are not convincing to us. There are no reasons to believe that the Kosovo case is different in any way from the situation in South Ossetia, in Abkhazia, or in Trans-Dniester," said Putin an interview before the upcoming G8 summit.
Putin sees strong parallels between the dissolution of Yugoslavia and the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
" - In one case, the Yugoslav communist empire collapsed, in another case, the Soviet communist empire collapsed. In one case there was ethnic conflict, and in the other cases there was also ethnic conflict," Putin points out. "And here, there was war. There, there was war too."
Asked if he was willing to adopt a more flexible position on Kosovo, Putin said that any approach to Kosovo should be coherent and consistent. Russia has advocated a universal and precedent-setting approach to the conflict between democratic self-determination and a desire for maintaining existing borders which is known as territorial integrity.
" - If we are willing to pursue the principle of self-determination of nations — and that was precisely the Soviet approach in fighting colonialism - if we are to put ethnic self-determination ahead of national integrity, then this approach needs to be universal in its application ... it needs to be applied in other regions of the world, at least in other regions of Europe," said Putin.
" - It would be difficult to explain to people in the Caucasus, why in one part of Europe, such a right was granted to a nation in Europe but is then denied to the people of the Caucasus - how can we explain this to them?" asked Putin.
- No difference between Kosovo and Transnistria
Russian President Putin believes that Kosovo and Transdniester, or Transnistria as it is called by Moldova in the Romanian language, must be treated the same.
" - There is no difference there. It is not clear to us why we should support one principle in one place in Europe, and other principles guiding other parts of Europe, denying the small peoples, say, the Caucasus, their right to self-determination," he added. "Why are Albanians allowed to act this way and Ossetians not? There is no way to explain this."
" - How do we explain to Ossetians why they are second-class citizens in Europe?"
Putin stressed that the position of Russia is based on one of the main principles of international law, territorial integrity of States and on the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, where "it is written in black and white: Kosovo is part of Serbia."
Nevertheless, there are other places in Europe which are further ahead than Kosovo on the road to internationally recognized independence. Some of them have running their own affairs for most of the past two decades. In terms of nation building, places like Abkazia and Transdniester / Transnistria have been doing a lot more than Kosovo, and can today be considered full-fledged sovereign states which have all the attributes of statehood except international recognition.
" - South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Transdniester for more than 15 years already function as independent nations. They have elected parliaments, presidents, they have adopted their constitutions. There is no difference," said Putin in noting that the 'de facto' independence of places like Transdniester (officially: Pridnestrovie) means that it already conducts its affairs as a separate, sovereign nation. Today, it will be impossible to turn back the clock.
The impact of Putin's statements will be felt in the aftermath of the G8 meeting.
" - There’s a lot of hypocrisy in the European and the American version of “democracy”, and Putin stings them nicely, accusing the US of alleged torture in Guantanamo and very rightly accusing the EU of double standards in the issues of Kosovo and Transnistria," says Amir Elisha Aharoni, a commentator from Israel.
See also:
» "Transnistria independence before Kosovo" says top Washington expert
» Kosovo independence gives equal rights to Pridnestrovie; other unrecognized countries
» No precedents in the unique case of Transdniester
| more about independence | |||||
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A former Foreign Minister of Romania says that Moldova ought to "decouple" itself from Transdniestria. Adrian Severin says it is the only way for Moldova to focus on its European aspirations. He also sees no future in fighting for unity of Moldova and Transdniestria "within borders imposed by Stalin." . . 
