Andrei Tarna: "As a Moldovan, I want Moldova to respect Transnistria's wish for independence"

Politician Andrei Tarna, head of Patria-Moldova: "I call on the authorities to immediately recognize Transnistrian independence"

CHISINAU (Tiraspol Times) - "I call on the authorities of Moldova to immediately recognize Transnistrian independence," says Andrei Tarna, a Moldovan political leader and the chairman of Patria-Moldova, the largest political party for Moldovan expatriates. According to him, the only way to date solution to the Transnistrian conflict is the recognition by Moldova of Pridnestrovie's ("Transnistria's") independence.

Patria-Moldova was formed to help Moldovans who live and work outside Moldova get their voice heard in Moldovan politics. Andrei Tarna, head of the Moldovan expatriates' party Patria-Moldova, aims to unite the interest of Moldovans everywhere. 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.

What do you see as a viable solution to the Transnistrian conflict?

" - I believe that the only solution to date version of the resolution of the Moldovan-Transnistrian conflict is the recognition of Transnistria's independence by Moldova. And Moldova should do so in the first place. This is the first step. Then, when the normal relations between the two sides have been restored, it will be possible to talk of a federal state on a contractual basis."

" - I was present as an international observer at both the independence referendum and at the parliamentary elections in Transnistria, and I have to admit that on both dates, Transnistria showed itself to be an autonomous society. It also has a viable economic model and it has all the attributes of sovereignty. This is an undeniable fact. It can not be wished away."

" - And if the elites in Chisinau once again wants to try to resolve the issue with violence, it will create more bloodshed, but won't be a solution to the root cause of this problem."

" - Despite 15 years of conflict and a near-total division between Transnistria and Moldova, there is still a good deal of common interests in both economic and social aspects. There can therefore be a basis for talks on a future confederation after international recognition of Transnistria's independence has taken place."

Your party focuses on giving emigrants a voice in politics. How do you see the current situation?

" - The flow of migrant workers leaving Moldova is increasing every year. Already in Russia alone, there are now more than 700,000 Moldovan guest workers, plus 300 to 400 thousand in the rest of Europe. To date, this is one of the major domestic issues facing Moldova. It is simply not possible for the vast majority of the working-age population, young people in particular, to find a good job back home. Once upon a time, Moldova used to be an exporter of agricultural products, but now it is just an exporter of cheap labor."

" - Incidentally, this situation works out quite well for the current authorities of Moldova. You see, the Communist Party has its strongest support among old folks, pensioners. So the less young people remain in the counry, the better it is for the electoral position of [Communist Party President Vladimir] Voronin. If this continues the same, then before you know it, there won't be any working age people left in Moldova."

But emigration is the result of economic problems in Moldova. How can this best be solved?

" - The main cause of the economic crisis in Moldova, in my view, is the unresolved Transnistrian conflict. In order to settle the Transnistrian issue, I call on all civil society in our region to recognize the 1992 civil war in Moldova and give it the proper realistic historical assessment. And understand the full responsibility of the historic mission of our generation - to end this civil war."

- I call on the President of Moldova, Vladimir Voronin, and on parliament and the government of Moldova, to immediately recognize the independence of a de facto second Moldovan State, the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, and thus resolve the Transnistrian issue once and for all, and then seek good neighborly relations in all spheres of life: economic, political, social, and building capacity for a future Moldovan confederation."

" - Moldova must do so in the first place. This is the first step. Then, when normal relations are restored, it can be possible to talk about a federal state on a mutually agreeable basis." (With information from Regnum)

See also:
» Grigore Mărăcuţă: "I'm a Moldovan, and proud that my people voted for freedom"
» Patria Moldova joins other ethnic Moldovans in support of PMR independence
» Mixed feelings in Moldova on Transdniester right to independence