PMR Foreign Ministry: "Kosovo sets new model for conflict solving"

Seeking recognition: Marchers display a large PMR flag during a recent celebration of the 'de facto' country's independence

TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - In an official statement issued by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government of Pridnestrovie reacted to Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence by calling on the international community to grant "early international recognition of Pridnestrovie's independence" as the final stage of a peaceful and just settlement of Moldova-Pridnestrovie conflict.

According to Pridnestrovie's Foreign Ministry, the recent move by Kosovo - with its stamp of approval by major Western powers - has automatically created a situation where it is now OK to examine the borders of post-Cold War Europe. This is a major shift in the world order which was formed after the adoption of the 1975 СSCE (now: OSCE) Helsinki Final Act, during the Cold War between the now-defunct Soviet Union and the West.

" - Pridnestrovie has closely followed the developments around the Autonomous Region of Kosovo and Metohija, although the Pridnestrovian state’s future has never been associated in Pridnestrovie with any decision on Kosovo," noted the statement while echoing earlier claims by Pridnestrovie that regardless of what happens in Kosovo, Pridnestrovie has - on its own - a far stronger case for independence. The position held by PMR President Igor Smirnov and other elected leaders has been that even without a "Kosovo precedent", Pridnestrovie has a strong and compelling case for statehood under international law.

Already sovereign, just not recognized

The Foreign Ministry goes on to note that the Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica (PMR), as a sovereign independent state, with functioning democratic institutes of state power, sustainable economy, and a developed civil society, was established before the 1998-1999 well-known developments in Kosovo, and under the norms of international and national law, on the basis of objective political, economic, social and demographic, military, and other premises.

Pridnestrovie's independence was declared through general referenda held on the basis of universal free vote in 1990-1991, sustained by adoption of the Constitution of the PMR during the referendum in 1995, and at the referendum re-affirming independence in 2006.

"New conflict settlement model has been established"

In the opinion of Pridnestrovie's Foreign Ministry, there is no reason for Pridnestrovie to copy Kosovo, but rather for Kosovo to use some of the experiences of Pridnestrovie to construct a state with real independence and the kind of true sovereignty that comes with self-government and freedom from outside powers: All of Pridnestrovie's state institutions were established through direct expression of will of people of the Republic, and not through external management. That is why the Pridnestrovian experience is the one that can be used for further state-building in Kosovo.

" - Nevertheless, the declaration and recognition of Kosovo are of fundamental importance," notes the Foreign Ministry, "since thereby a new conflict settlement model has been established, based on the priority of people’s right to self-determination. Pridnestrovie holds that this model should be applicable to all conflicts which have similar political, legal, and economic bases."

" - In the circumstances, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic considers an early international recognition of Pridnestrovie's independence to be a final stage of a peaceful and just settlement of Moldova-Pridnestrovie conflict, a contribution of the international community to strengthening regional stability and security," ends the text.

See also:
» Transdniestria seeks recognition of its 'de facto' independence
» After Kosovo precedent, Transdniestria re-affirms independence commitment

Opinion and commentary:
» Comparing Kosovo and Transnistria