PMR's voters used direct democracy institution, Moscow says

Independence referendum took place with a high degree of organization and transparency, the official statement confirms

MOSCOW (Tiraspol Times) - Describing Sunday's independence referendum as "direct democracy" and noting its high degree of transparency, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that it respects the right of the people of Pridnestrovie - also known as Transnistria - to let their voice be heard. Its statement, issued Tuesday, explains that the people of Pridnestrovie have lived in an unsettled conflict for 16 years and that for all of these 16 years, they have lived outside the jurisdiction of Moldova. During this time, Moldova has shaped itself without any participation by the people of Pridnestrovie and no settlement between the two has been reached.

" - Faced with political uncertainty and the continuing economic pressure, Pridnestrovie used the institution of direct democracy, which a referendum is, to express their perceptions about the preferable form of ensuring stability and predictability in the region. A high turnout (according to the Central Election Commission, 78.6 percent of the electorate), a high degree of organization, transparency and the absence of any substantial voting irregularities were noted. This was confirmed by observers from different international nongovernmental organizations," said the statement by the Foreign Ministry.

Voters backed independence by wide margin. The outcome of the vote showed 97.1 percent in favor of maintaining the pro-independence stance, with a subsequent possibility of free association with Russia, and that 94.6 percent rejected giving up independence in order to subsequently become part of the Republic of Moldova. And, noted the statement, "As Pridnestrovie's President Igor Smirnov declared on September 18, the plebiscite results will become determinant in the elaboration of a political vector of the development of the region.

Objective assessment required

In an indirect snipe at those who refuse to take the will of the people into account, the Ministry's statement noted that only the opposite approach can guarantee successful conflict resolution:
" - An objective assessment of the sentiments on both banks of the Dniester is a guarantee of successful work by the mediators and observers involved in resolving the conflict", noted the statement.

The United States and most of Europe dismissed the referendum, adding that it would complicate the settlement talks. But such statements are seen in the region as irresponsible and as too quick a way to brush off the self-determination aspirations of a people who feel no affinity with Moldova and who see the country as a foreign oppressor.

" - This is a triumph of democracy, even if it doesn't please some people," says Kirill Frolov, with the official Institute of the Commonwealth of Independent States in Moscow, in a statement confirmed by other analysts and experts on the region. Meanwhile, in Tiraspol, resident Lena Timoshenko wanted to know:
" - How can it complicate settlement talks to ask the people what they think about their own future, and then take those results into account?"

About a third of Pridnestrovie's population are ethnic Russians, according to the latest 2004 census. Another third are Ukrainians, while the rest are Moldovans, Bulgarians and others. Many - regardless of ethnic background - are Russian citizens.
" - We were forced to introduce double and triple citizenship to allow our citizens to travel to see their relatives abroad," President Igor Smirnov told the Russian daily Kommersant, in reference to the fact that citizens of an unrecognized republic are considered stateless in other countries and hold passports which are not valid for foreign travel.

In March, neighboring Ukraine imposed tough customs controls on the border with Pridnestrovie. Russia, which sends humanitarian assistance through Ukraine, has deplored these as an "economic embargo" and the residents of Pridnestrovie see the move by Ukraine as an economic blockade aimed at forcing them to their knees and giving up their wish for independent statehood.

" - The referendum ... conducted in conditions of political instability and economic blockade, expresses the public will and reflects the desire of the population to live in stability and predictability," Sergei Mironov, speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament, was quoted as saying by the RIA-Novosti news agency.

174 international observers participated in monitoring the Sunday referendum in the breakaway republic. As reported by RIA-Novosti, they said that they did not register any procedural violations during the secret balloting. A Russian MP who participated as part of the international election observer mission also declared the vote to be democratic. Victor Alksnis said that the referendum was free and no grave violations were registered.