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16 years ago, in June of 1992, this Moldovan BTR90 formed part of an invasion that crossed the Dniester and attacked Dubossary

CHISINAU (Tiraspol Times) - On 22 May 2008, Moldova's parliament approved a national security strategy that named Transdniestria a danger to Moldova and squarely identified it as a Moldovan war target. President Vladimir Voronin signed the strategy into law on May 26 and it was officially published and went into effect on May 27.

The move came just a month after Transdniestria (officially, Pridnestrovie) proposed a formal Friendship and Co-operation Treaty between the two sides. Transdniestria's plan wanted to establish good neighborly relations between Moldova and Transdniestria and bilaterally renounce all kinds of use of force.

Following a face to face meeting of Presidents Vladimir Voronin (the Republic of Moldova) and Igor Smirnov (the Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica, or PMR) there was optimism that relations could finally be normalized among the two sides with the signing of a collaboration deal. Despite numerous requests, Moldova has so far merely ignored the draft treaty. This has puzzled the Transdniestrian government, whose Presidential Press Service last Friday issued a statement lamenting, among other things, "also incomprehensible attitude of the official Chisinau to the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Moldova and Pridnestrovie."

Instead of a formal reply, Moldova replied by simply passing its new national security strategy and labeling Transdniestria its main threat. According to the law, Moldova's military must now draw up war plans and other strategies for countering this national threat, as already defined and ordered by both Parliament and Moldovan strongman Vladimir Voronin.

Transdniestria's public media responded with disappointment, with Olvia Press noting in its latest article that instead of seeking friendship and co-operation, ""the Moldovan authorities approved a national security strategy, where Pridnestrovie is cast in the role as the main threat to Moldova."

Historically peaceful

Transdniestria has already existed as a 'de facto' independent state for close to eighteen years, having declared independence on 2 September 1990.

In the historical context, Transdniestria has been unaggressive and peaceful throughout its entire history. The single spat of war that took place on its territory was caused by invading forces from Moldova who attacked Transdniestria in order to establish its territorial claim through the use of force.

Sixteen years ago, in May and June of 1992, Moldovan troops crossed over the Dniester river and attacked Dubossary. Another city in the PMR, Bender, was also invaded and attacked with both artillery and air strikes.

The Transdniestrian people defended themselves as best they could, but never once did they cross into Moldovan territory or attack any Moldovan towns or cities. The fighting took place entirely within the borders of Transdniestria.

Despite the active support and involvement of Romania, which Moldova's President Vladimir Voronin publicly acknowledged in May, the war failed and the Moldovan troops were forced to withdraw to Moldova. No Transdniestrian fighters ever took the war to Moldova, and no Transdniestrian tanks have ever entered Moldovan-held territory at any time in history.

Aggressive stance causes bewilderment

Olvia Press, seeing the security strategy as a Moldovan "destruction strategy," contrasts the war plans with Transdniestria's plans for a friendship and co-operation treaty. The public news agency also reminds its readers that the war plans are behind drawn up against Transdniestria behind a smokescreen of words about peace, confidence building initiatives and the need for creating goodwill between the two sides to the conflict.

" - So what is truthful here and what are lies? That is easy to discover," continues the news agency. "On one hand, there are mere words about the need for confidence building. And on the other hand, there is a an actual law which has been passed by Moldova's Parliament and signed by the President of the country."

" - Now that Chisinau's true goals and objectives are clearly defined, we can safely assume that future words from Chisinau about building friendly relations and peace initiatives will merely be bluff."

A number of commentators in both Moldova and Transdniestria are unsure why Moldova wants to obtaining a deal which voters are clearly opposed to. One of them, Tiraspol-based Petru Gladchi, says that even after a new war it will be impossible for Moldova to rule over Transdniestria. The only solution, he says, is for Moldova to let Transdniestria be free and independent and for Transdniestria to become a friend to Moldova.

" - So what does Moldova think it can get out of conquering Pridnestrovie against the will of those of us who live here?" asks Petru Gladchi, an civil rights activist with a local NGO. "It is not clear what their aims are. But if you aim to occupy and settle your enemy’s homeland, good luck with that approach..."

See also:
» Transdniestria wants friendship and cooperation treaty with Moldova [1]
» Pridnestrovie seeks consensus solution with Moldova [2]
» Negotiations must reflect an objective reality, says Henry Kissinger [3]

Opinion and commentary:
» The How-To for peace and prosperity on the Dniester [4]

On the web:
» Friendship and Co-operation Treaty [5]