Youth group reminds Moldova of Transdniestria's "fully fledged statehood"

Alena Arshinova, the leader of Transdniestria's civil society youth group "Breakthrough," is in favor of full independence

TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - Alena Arshinova, the leader of Transdniestria's civil youth group Breakthrough, wants to see the resumption of status settlement talks between Moldova and Transdniestria to determine the future legal status of the unrecognized country. At the same time, the youth group which she is the head of also wants to remind Moldova that the past 18 years has been a success story for Transdniestria (officially, Pridnestrovie) which has independently built its own fully fledged statehood.

" - The degree of effectiveness [of the status settlement negotiations] is directly dependent on the extent to which the Moldovan authorities are ready to embrace the obvious: That for 18 years, Pridnestrovie has become a full-fledged state, lacking only in recognition as such," stressed Alena Arshinova, whose organization shares the opinion of the vast majority of Transdniestria's inhabitants that the only viable future lies in independence and that there is no point in being absorbed by Moldova against their will.

" - To conduct a dialogue with us, it is necessary to respect the will of the people and take their opinions into account," said the civil society activist. "The use of pressure tactics or ultimatums will immediately damage the negotiation process even before it has begun," Arshinova added.

Preventing a "hot war"

The resumption of the negotiating process between Moldova and Transdniestria doesn't indicate the success of one side or the defeat of the other, but is merely an alternative to the current "cold war" which at any time could turn "hot" between the two sides.

So said Breakthrough's leader Alena Arshinova, as reported by 'PMR News'. In her opinion, "the willingness of President Igor Smirnov and Parliamentary Speaker Yevgeny Shevchuk to sit down at the negotiating table with Moldova is a good signal for international institutions and civil society, both in Transdniestria and in Moldova."

" - The current 'cold war' between Moldova and PMR is a drain on our productive energies, it ruins the economy, and it keeps both sides on a constant state of alert," she lamented.

" - And all of Chisinau's attempts to force Transdniestria to surrender has come to nothing," said Arshinova. "Moreover, the economic blockade and attacks in the media have only brought the Transdniestrians together and mobilized us."

" - The only alternative to conflict lies in letting both sides talk to each other on the basis of equals, with the participation of mediators and guarantors. The "5+2" format is the most appropriate for the current situation, since it takes into account the opinion of both the large states and the will of the people who live in the conflict zone," said Alena Arshinova.

The civil society youth group Breakthrough ("Proriv," in Russian) was founded in 2005 as political youth organization. It quickly rose to become the largest in the country, thanks to a series of protest marches, street happenings and methods modelled on groups like Otpor, Kmara and other participants of colored revolutions in the post-Soviet sphere. On 2 June 2006 it formally registered itself as a political party, enabling its members to stand as candidates in all of Transdniestria's elections, local as well as national.

See also:
» Alena Arshinova: "We are prepared to make a sacrifice for sovereign statehood"
» Civil society seeks a voice in settlement dialogue
» More new parties in Pridnestrovie as youth group joins the fray