Through freedom and democracy, new states are born

Will 2008 be the breakthrough year in conflict resolution between Moldova and Pridnestrovie? This is hard to discern. But what is clear is that Moldova continues a ceaseless political and economic offensive against Pridnestrovie on multiple diplomatic fronts.

Currently, the question has been inserted onto the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly. It is part of a resolution submitted by the GUAM coalition of states comprised of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova, to condemn the independence efforts of Pridnestrovie and three other frozen conflict regions of the former Soviet Union (Abkhazia, South Ossetia and the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, NKR).

Ironically, this movement coincides with a contradictory effort led by the United States that calls for the independence of Kosovo. Its supporters repeatedly claim that Kosovo is a unique case that needs prompt resolution. They assert that Kosovo is not a precedent for other unresolved separatist conflicts.

Russia disagrees and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Terry Davis, is unsure. He told the news agency Trend that it is very hard to predict the influence of the declaration of independence of Kosovo on Nagorno Karabakh and other “frozen conflicts.”

In any event, it appears certain that Kosovo will be declared an independent state in the near future despite Russia’s objections, without a UN Security Council endorsement and, even the unanimous concurrence of the European Union.

Will Kosovo then become a precedent for Pridnestrovie’s independence? The answer is ambivalent. Nonetheless, Moldova is fearful of Kosovo’s independence because it strengthens Pridnestrovie's claims. Meanwhile, Pridnestrovie has said all along that its own independence question is predicated on proper historic roots and based on international law which has nothing to do with Kosovo. Even without an independent Kosovo, Pridnestrovie would still have a clear legal claim to independence based upon a careful analysis of already-prevailing international law.

There are both similarities and differences between Kosovo’s circumstances and Pridnestrovie’s. Each of the two galvanized the wish for independence as a result of military actions that defeated Serbian and Moldovan armed forces, respectively. It took a NATO force to expel Serbian forces, but Pridnestrovie obtained reached victory thanks to the efforts of its own people defending the land in which they were born. In Kosovo, the victory was followed by violence against Serbs and selective ethnic cleansing. No such violence took place in Pridnestrovie against the Moldovans, a minority. In fact, most of the Moldovans in Pridnestrovie support independence and don't want to be part of Moldova. Pridnestrovie's first vice president was a Moldovan, and so was the first Speaker of Parliament. Moldovans occupy important posts in Pridnestrovie's local administrations and equal representation in Parliament. In Kosovo, representatives of the Serb minority don't occupy key government posts or seats in the local legislature.

Another difference is that in Pridnestrovie, its new republic resulted from the free will and independent actions of its citizenry while in Kosovo NATO authorities still exercise oversight and control over the levers of government.

New states can be created through freedom and democracy. A close examination of the historical facts shows that this is the case in Pridnestrovie, but not in Kosovo, which has been a nation-building project driven by outside support and on the back of expulsions of an ethnic minority, the Kosovo Serbs.

Thus, whether or not Kosovo constitutes a precedent in the eyes of Kosovo’s western supporters, they will be hard pressed to choose between the validity of one over the other. In the end, it is principle - not precedent - that should and hopefully will determine Pridnestrovie’s future. The key principle should be a strict adherence to freedom, democracy and respect for the will of the people as they exercise their right to peaceful self-determination.

Also by John Moynihan:
» Memo to State: Face up to reality
» The Fourth World: Invisible countries
» Ending the Transdniester frozen conflict
» Double standards over Kosovo
» Why 1924-thinking for Transnistria - Moldova unification won't work
» Transnistria next in line for recognition?
» "Massive" ethnic cleansing in Transnistria
» No one's permission needed for Transnistria independence
» Moldova more afraid of Kosovo independence than Serbia