Transdniestria seeks recognition of its 'de facto' independence

Youth in Tiraspol, the capital of 'de facto' independent Transdniestria, step up their demands for recognized statehood

TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - The government of Transdniestria (officially: Pridnestrovie) welcomed the international recognition of Kosovo's statehood as proof of "a new model for conflict resolution" in which the will of a people for self-determination would now be taken into account for determining the future of a disputed territory.

On the border between two larger states, Moldova and Ukraine, the landlocked Republic of Transdniestria - which is also known under names such as Transnistria or Transdniester - declared independence in 1990, one year before the existence of the Republic of Moldova which nevertheless maintains a territorial claim to the territory.

Already functioning as a separate country

With its own currency, flag and constitution, Transdniestria has governed itself as a separate, independent country for the past seventeen years. However, despite this 'de facto' independence, no country has yet recognized Transdniestria's current status as an entity separate from Moldova.

As reported by DPA, a statement from Transdniestria's elected government described Kosovo's declaration of independence, and widespread international acceptance of the declaration despite Serbian objections, as a precedent applying to the conflict from Moldova.

" - There is no other alternative, but an early recognition of Pridnestrovie as an independent state by the international community," the announcement read in part, referring to the unrecognized country by its official, constitutional name. "The Kosovo model should be used in the resolution of all (similar) conflicts."

" - Full and unabridged independence (for Transnistria) can be the only resolution that can bring peace and stability to our region," the statement concluded.

Predictably, Moldova's Foreign Ministry swiftly rejected Kossovo's independence out of hand, calling it "a dangerous precedent ... with no application to our region."

Never part of Moldova

Transdniestria, which is mostly Russian-speaking and has a population which is two-thirds Slavic enclave, is opposed to forced integration inside the ethnically Romanian Moldova. Independence is supported by Transdniestria's Moldovan minority as well. In a referendum held in 2006, and observed by international election monitors, some 97% of the voters supported independence while 94% opposed any form of common state with Moldova.

There are few historical ties between the two sides. Prior to World War II, Moldova was part of Romania while Transdniestria was an autonomous republic inside the Soviet Union, with Tiraspol as its capital.

In Ukraine, immediately north of the 'de facto' independent Republic of Transdniestria, political leaders noted that Kosovo would be precedent-setting for Transdniestria, a territory which was formerly part of Ukraine but which has never been part of any independent Moldovan state at any time in its history.

" - The world now has a serious precedent that disregards the Helsinki agreements, which guaranteed the sanctity of national borders," Party of Regions leader Viktor Yanukovych said in Ukraine after Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence. (With information from DPA)

See also:
» After Kosovo precedent, Transdniestria re-affirms independence commitment
» Pridnestrovie has better grounds for independence than Kosovo, says analyst
» On Kosovo and Transdniestria, United States hammered for "pseudo-reality" portrayals

Opinion and commentary:
» No precedents in the unique case of Transdniester

On the web:
» The four pillars of Pridnestrovie's statehood