"Patria Moldova" joins other ethnic Moldovans in support of PMR independence

Politician Andrei Tarna, head of Patria-Moldova: "As Moldovans, we must respect the sovereign will of the people"

TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - "The conflict must be solved peacefully and by democratic means. Use ballots, not bullets," says Andrei Tarna, a Moldovan political leader and the chairman of Patria-Moldova, the largest political party for Moldovan expatriates. "Let people vote on what they see as the best future for themselves."

Arriving in Tiraspol with a team of international observers to monitor Sunday's independence referendum, Tarna gave a press conference to foreign journalists at the city's International Press Center.

" - As Moldovans, we must respect the sovereign will of the people. Only the free decision of the people who live here can determine status of this region ", stated Andrei Tarna on behalf of the world's largest organization of Moldovans abroad.

The Moldovan politician confirmed that his group would be providing a team of international observers, and would participate in overseeing the voting process to European standards. At the same time, he had harsh words for so-called democratic countries in Europe who had declined the invitation to help organize the referendum or to send election observers:
" - It is necessary to observe how the voting takes place. If you don't do that, then you have no right to voice any opinion on whether or not it is legitimate."

Explaining his organization's participation in past elections, he told the press that the basic rule is that you must see something first-hand before you can pronounce judgment on it. His words echo recent criticism by civil leaders in Pridnestrovie who claim that foreign governments rush to judgment, condemning democracy initiatives in the new and emerging country when they should instead support them and work with the local groups to improve the process, making it is free and fair and transparent as absolutely possible.

Answering an earlier question about Patria-Moldova’s attitude towards claims for independency of Pridnestrovie, Tarna said: “Our organization has rendered assistance to people from both the right and the left banks of the Dniester River. But if some of my compatriots has chosen the way of independence, then that is their right and we must respect that.”

Moldovan support, but not from the government

By coming out in favor of Pridnestrovie's independence, Patria-Moldova joins a number of other Moldovan organizations who see this solution as the best way for normal relations between the two sides of the Dniester river.

The 555,347 citizens of Pridnestrovie are approximately two-thirds Slav and one-third ethnic Moldovan. However, as an indepth study by the Washington, D.C.-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace unveiled, even ethnic Moldovans in the country prefer independence by an overwhelming margin, respect the historical border at the Dniester river and have no wish to join their brothers in Moldova. Many of the country's leading pro-independence politicians are ethnic Moldovans.

The Union of Moldovans in PMR, a federation of local clubs and civic organizations of Moldovans throughout Pridnestrovie, is strongly supportive of independence. Founded in 1993, it is the largest organization representing the Moldovan minority living in the unrecognized country. Its president, Valerianus Tulgar, is an ethnic Moldovan born in Pridnestrovie and he speaks for most of the other ethnic Moldovans when he says that "we can consider almost any alternative, but joining Moldova is out of the question. Forget it, it simply shouldn't happen. And if it does, it will not last for long."

Part of the reason for his skepticism is the ham-handed way with which Moldova has treated Pridnestrovie, and, by extension, the 32% of Pridnestrovie's residents which are ethnic Moldovans.

In this, former Moldovan prime-minister Dumitru Braghis agrees:
" - The referendum on independence is a consequence of the incapacity of the Moldovan administrations to settle the conflict at the negotiations' table," says Braghis, the chairman of the Party of Social Democracy in Moldova.

Braghis comments follow those of others in Moldovan politics who feel that ignoring of the Transdniester referendum shows a shortsightedness and a display a lack of political perspective.

" - The multitude of mistakes made by the Chisinau administration, its lack of consistency in foreign and domestic policy, its attempts to undermine democracy and human rights, lack of a independent judiciary, its incompetence in improving living standards - all these create favorable conditions for the consolidation of separatism and considerably reduce the possibilities for restarting the negotiation process concerning Transdniester conflict settlement", declared Braghis.

Earlier in Chisinau, Valery Klimenko, the leader of another Moldovan political party, "Ravnopravie", declared to the press that "the Transdniester people have all the rights to self-determination, and after the referendum all the talks about a reunification with Moldova will be meaningless".

Pridnestrovie is often called Transdniester or Transnistria, both being unofficial names. The official position of the government in Chisinau is the exact opposite of the one taken by Moldovan leaders like Tulgar, Braghis, Klimenko, Tarna and their organizations. The current authorities of Moldova will not recognize the referendum and does not believe that the people of Pridnestrovie has a right to self-determination through the ballot box.

The Moldovan diaspora: Largest in the world

Migrants are Moldova's main export. According to some data, of Moldavia's total population (around 3,400,000 people) almost one million lives outside the country as economic migrants, according to data by Patria-Moldova. The International Organisation for Migration puts the number at 800,000, as of 2006. Even accepting the lower figure, on a per capita basis, the percentage of the Moldovan diaspora is the largest in the world. Moldovan guestworkers are eeking out a living - often illegally - in countries all over Europe, from the CIS in the East to Portugal in the West.

Patria-Moldova was formed to help them get their voice heard in Moldovan politics. In a program statement, the party explained its goals: "Having united in an international public organization we strive for supporting and facilitating social adaptation of Moldovan nationals abroad, and defending their liberties and interests. 'Gastarbeiters' feed and support Moldova and therefore deserve to have their own representation in the national government."

Andrei Tarna, head of the Moldovan expatriates' party Patria-Moldova, aims to unite the interest of Moldovans everywhere.

"We remain Moldovans even outside of Moldova which gives us constitutional right to vote. We intend to use this right and we know what we're going to vote for - freedom of speech, right of decent living, and democratic society," said the Statement.

In the latest parliamentary elections in Moldova, the party threw its support behind the opposition-alliance Democratic Moldova Bloc which lost to President Vladimir Voronin's Communist-ruled government.

See also:
» No to Bosnia: Ethnic groups agree on independence course
» Ethnic Moldovans in Pridnestrovie prefer independence over unification with Moldova