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Parliament building of the de-facto independent republic of Pridnestrovie (informally: Transdniester) in the capital Tiraspol

TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - While ruling out the possibility of giving up Transdniester's 18 year old de-facto independence, the Speaker of the unrecognized country's Parliament is nevertheless willing to improve the situation with neighboring Moldova for the benefit of both sides.

Native-born Yevgeny Shevchuk, 39, from Rybnitsa on Transdniester's side of the Dniester river, says that it would be a good idea for the Speakers of both Parliaments to sit down for face to face talks because "we have never rejected the negotiations."

His comments come on the heels of a recent landmark meeting of Transdniester President Igor Smirnov with Moldova's leader Vladimir Voronin. On Friday, Voronin and Smirnov spoke to each other for about 90 minutes in Bender, the second largest city of Transdniester, in what was their first face-to-face meeting since 2001.

Yevgeny Shevchuk, 39, is one of Transdniester's leading opposition politicians and the current head of the unrecognized country's Parliament. He is in favor of independence and also wants good neighborly relations with the Parliament of Moldova.

The Moldovan leader's office said the talks took place in a "constructive atmosphere" and the press service of the Transdniestrian president issued a statement noting that there were grounds for "cautious optimism."

Resolve problems to improve life on both sides

Transdniester's Parliamentary Speaker considers this an encouraging event and expressed hope for the fact that "within the framework of this meeting we will be able to take concrete steps that can contribute to the economic recovery of both Transdniester and Moldova, as well as ease the free movement of citizens across the border."

" - We believe that it is necessary to meet with the government of Moldova, including with the leadership of Moldova's Parliament, to resolve existing problems in order to improve life on both banks of the Dniester," he said.

" - If there are such opportunities, we will not refuse them, and perhaps in the near future we will see such a meeting," he added.

Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin and Transdniestrian President Igor Smirnov agreed on Friday to continue to hold talks to "gradually" resolve issues related to their longstanding conflict over the disputed territory which makes up Transnistria or the Trandniester Republic (officially named the Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica, abbreviated PMR, or Pridnestrovie for short).

Both Moldova and Transdniester were together in the Soviet Union. Transdniester declared independence in 1990 and Moldova declared independence one year later, in 1991.

Historically, Moldova existed as a principality from the year 1359. At its largest extent, the borders of independent Moldova reached to other side of the Dniester river and never included Transdniester.

The territory which today makes up the bulk of Transdniester has no traditional historical, linguistic, ethnic, legal or territorial ties to Moldova.

See also:
» Presidents of Moldova, Transdniestria meet for talks in Transdniestria [1]
» Transdniestria wants friendship and cooperation treaty with Moldova [2]
» Transnistria to Moldova: “We just want to be friends…!” [3]

On the web:
» Friendship and Co-operation Treaty [4]