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Tiraspol-born Olga Paterova: "Real freedom is freedom to let a people decide its own future"

TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - The biggest problem that the West has when it comes to proposing conflict resolution and a status settlement solution is a total and utter lack of credibility.

That, at least, is the opinion of three local-born youth activists, all from Tiraspol, the capital of unrecognized Pridnestrovie (Transnistria, in the Romanian language).
They point to what is perceived here as blatant double standards on the part of those from the West who are supposed to be impartial, unbiased and act as mediators between PMR and Moldova.

Without credibility, and without a serious, unbiased approach based on international law, no Western-brokered peace accord is possibility. Civil society from Tiraspol has previously asked to have their opinions heard, and be included as observers to the status settlement talks. Their request was met with a closed door at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe; the OSCE.

Olga Paterova, press secretary, Breakthrough:
" - There is a curious double standard at work in some of the less progressive sectors of the West. They like freedom when they can control it and put their own people in place. So they wanted independence for Kosovo, for Montenegro, for Bosnia, for Croatia, for Slovenia and Macedonia, and even East Timor. But real freedom is freedom to let a people decide its own future. We want reform but a reform on the ground, from the base, created by the people who live here, not a reform imposed on us by foreign interests. Fortunately, there are open minded leaders in Europe who are beginning to understand this process and know that it is best for everyone to have a free, prosperous, fully recognized neighbor on their border. Pridnestrovie can be that neighbor and we have no double standards in our relations with other countries."

Alex Mulganov, representative, Eurasian Union of Youth:
" - Here, in this small and proud nation, 3 main ethnic groups peacefully coexist: Moldovans, Ukrainians and Russians. In the struggle for peace all of these 3 groups joined forces and fought off the larger country next to us, Moldova, which wanted to destroy our state. Even today, we must still defend our rights on the self-determination, independence and realization of the basic principles of democracy. Only if democracy takes root in Moldova can we here in Pridnestrovie say that we are safe. Here in Pridnestrovie, in my opinion, democracy is already a fact. There are nearly 600 grassroot groups, NGOs and other civic organizations, dozens of newspapers freely reporting in three languages, several private TV and radio stations, ten religions, and about half a dozen opposition parties. What more is necessary to show to the world that we are democratic? To register 500 more opposition parties?"

Dmitri Kalutskiy, organizer, Pridnestrovie Patriotic Youth:
" - I, as an organizer in the NGO Pridnestrovie's Patriotic Youth, am involved in creating a real democratic society. I am glad that other youth groups in the country have also woken up and that we can work together for change. We don't believe in the lies of the Communists anymore. From all sides abroad we are told that our state is inferior, but we don't believe in those lies anymore. We are for democracy and against corruption and bureaucracy. Now the corrupt Communist president of Moldova wants to extend his bureaucratic reign over Pridnestrovie, under the scam of a 'reunited state'. We, the young, stand together in favor of democracy, here and abroad, and reject any attempt to rule over us from any outside power like Moldova."

See also:
» Civil society seeks a voice in settlement dialogue [1]
» Jail terms sought for teenagers in flag-raft prank [2]