Int'l recognition of Transdniestria will help stability in Europe, says Foreign Ministry

Transdniestria, a slim territory between Moldova and Ukraine, declared independence in 1990 - one year before Moldova

TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - Transdniestria is a peaceful little country and the main problem is that it is just not recognized yet by the rest of the world. So says two local members of parliament, refuting a remark by a Russian politician seeking to include the new and emerging country on a list of "problem countries."

" - A 'Problem Country' is a state that threatens other countries, or wants a new world order, or seeks to impose changes on the rest of the world. But Pridnestrovie is a peaceful republic. We don't want anyone to change the world," said Valery Chervonooky, a Member of Parliament from Bender, in Transdniestria (official name: Pridnestrovie).

" - On that definition, you could perhaps call the United States a problem country," stressed the MP. "But not Pridnestrovie."

Dmitry Medvedev, widely seen as Russia's next President, said that his country will maintain an ongoing dialogue with everyone involved in conflict areas, and specifically named Transdniestria.

"Not a problem country"

Chervonooky's statements came after a remark by Dmitry Medvedev, the likely future President of Russia, who on 22 January said that Russia's would not end its bilateral relations with so-called "problem countries" and then named Transdniestria among other examples.

" - We won't break our relations with the so-called "problem countries", which sometimes cause unpleasant emotions in the international community, as this is also our responsibility," he said, referring to Russia's role in helping bring stability to the international system. Medvedev advocated continuous dialogue instead of use of force in international relations: "It would be more unproductive to suspend these relations and instead begin a campaign of carpet bombing. I think that in the world today, everyone understands this."

Chervonooky, 43, is an ethnic Ukrainian who was born in Pridnestrovie's second-largest city, Bender. He has lived in Bender all of his life. In 1992's war of independence, he successfully helped defend his hometown against the Moldovan invasion. After the failed invasion, talks on the future status of the disputed territory have not yet reach a mutually agreeable solution.

Native-born Valery Chervonooky, an MP from Transdniestria's second largest city, says that his home country is not a problem state. "We are a peaceful republic," he assures the press.

Transdniestria believes that the status outcome has to follow the democratic will of the affected population, whereas Moldova refuses to recognize that independent statehood of Transdniestria is desired by an overwhelming majority of the territory's 550,000 inhabitants.

Main problem is lack of recognition

" - The unrecognized status of Pridnestrovie is what prevents it from having normal relations with other states," says Olga Gukalenko, MP for Renewal, the country's largest opposition party and currently the dominant political force in Parliament.

" - Pridnestrovie today lacks full legal status, taking into account international law. So for many others, including Russia and a number of different international organizations, it is a 'problem country,'" added Gukalenko.

" - Problems exist," she says. "They are connected with economic collaboration and the resolution of political questions, which would be solved much more easy if Pridnestrovie was considered a sovereign state by others."

" - But no one can say that we are the cause of any problems to anyone. We don't spread epidemics, or cause any negative national conflicts. We are not provocateurs from some extremist groups. Yes, in the international context it is true that the unrecognized status of Pridnestrovie can cause problems with establishing normal relations and good connections with other states. They could be firmer and more promising in all areas. However, I don't consider Pridnestrovie a problematic region at the scale of, say, Kosovo. We have a clear understanding of our statehood, and it is present in all of its attributes. In this plan for ourselves and our own future, we have already overcome all of our problems a long time ago," noted Olga Gukalenko.

MP Olga Gukalenko, a legislator from Transdniestria, says that the main problem is that her country is not recognized internationally.

Better grounds for independence than Kosovo

Transdniestria, which is officially the Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica (PMR), or Pridnestrovie for short, is also known under a variety of informal names including Transnistria in Romanian and Transdniester in English. The republic of 4,163 square km declared independence in 1990, one year before the independence declaration of Moldova, and has never been part of a Moldovan state at any time in history.

Transdniestria's Foreign Ministry is actively seeking international recognition of the country's de facto statehood. It avoids comparing itself to independence-aspiring Kosovo; preferring instead to highlight the historical and legal claims on which Transdniestria bases its own claim to independence. While not disparaging Kosovo's own bid for statehood, Transdniestria points out that it has a better case for independence and a more solid basis for sovereign statehood under international law.

" - International recognition of Kosovo can lead to the destabilization of all of Europe. However, the recognition of Pridnestrovie will, on the contrary, make it possible to solve a long-running European border dispute and will in the final analysis guarantee stability in this region," the PMR Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in an official statement published on its website 25 January 2008. "Thus, objectively speaking, recognition will be beneficial for both the European Union and Russia."

See also:
» De-facto independent countries to ask EU, UN for statehood recognition
» Russia ready to recognize Pridnestrovie if Kosovo gets independence
» "Kosovo domino effect means independence for Transdniester too" - Russia

Opinion and commentary:
» Independent Transdniestria good for Moldova