Tiraspol Times & Weekly Review - politics

Moldova and Transdniester Parliament leaders meet in Brussels for EU-led talks

Jason Cooper — Wed, 14 May 2008 23:21:15 -0500

Moldova Parliament Speaker Marian Lupu met with the Speaker of Transdniestria's Parliament Yevgeny Shevchuk in Brussels on Wednesday. Yevgeny Shevchuk had been invited to the Belgian capital by the European Union. On Thursday he is expected to address a conference at the European Parliament about 'de facto' independent states.

Moldova President blames Romania for "unsolved" Transdniestria claim

Jason Cooper — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:28:18 -0500

Moldova's President Vladimir Voronin blames Romania for lack of progress in "solving" Moldova's territorial claim to Transdniestria. "Every time relations improve between Transdniestria and Moldova, there are hysterics in Romania," he says. He also says Romania provoked Moldova into launching military attacks against Transdniestria in 1992.

Smirnov / Voronin talks see "cautious optimism" in future negotiation process

Times staff — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:22:31 -0500

Following their first meeting in nearly seven years, the Presidents of Transdniestria and Moldova voiced cautious optimism about the future of their negotiation process. Igor Smirnov thanked his Moldovan colleague for a "frank conversation". In turn, Vladimir Voronin voiced hope that formal status settlement talks can resume within a week.

Presidents of Moldova, Transdniestria meet for talks in Transdniestria

Jason Cooper — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 08:43:38 -0500

The President of Moldova arrived in Transdniestria on Friday for the first meeting in seven years with his Transdniestrian counterpart. Vladimir Voronin and Igor Smirnov spoke for an hour and a half in Bender, Transdniestria's second largest city. The President's press service expressed "cautious optimism" on the negotiation process.

Smirnov rules out meeting Voronin on Moldovan soil

Times staff — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:24:04 -0500

There will be no "home court advantage" for Moldova's President Vladimir Voronin when he meets his counterpart from Pridnestrovie for the first time in seven years. President Igor Smirnov is unwilling to meet on Moldovan soil. He fears a new kidnapping, and remembers his own time spent as a political prisoner in solitary confinement in Chisinau.

Duma advances int'l recognition of Transnistria, Abkhazia and S.Ossetia as countries

Times staff — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:46:19 -0500

With the latest statement passed by Russia's Duma, Transnistria (Pridnestrovie) and two other unrecognized countries are now one step closer to international recognition. Russia already recognized the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria. The statement also says they are now democracies with all the proper attributes of statehood.

Pridnestrovie independence follows Kosovo's, govt says

Karen Ryan — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 23:25:12 -0600

A week after Kosovo unilaterally declared that it wanted to be a separate country, Pridnestrovie seeks international recognition of its own independence based on the "Kosovo Precedent". The move follows nearly twenty years of fruitless discussions with Moldova over the territory's future. Any solution must be based on the free will of the voters, says a leading politician in Tiraspol.

Pridnestrovie Parliamentary Speaker keeps all options open with Moldova

Times staff — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:31:13 -0600

The Speaker of Pridnestrovie's Parliament will not rule out the eventuality of a common state with Moldova at some point in the future. Yevgeny Shevchuk says that a 1997 agreement between the sides entails a commitment for Pridnestrovie to consider all options, including the option of a joint state of some sort with Moldova. A lot will now depend on the willingness of Moldova's regime to let positive trends develop.

Int'l recognition of Transdniestria will help stability in Europe, says Foreign Ministry

Jason Cooper — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:01:25 -0600

According to Transdniestria's Foreign Ministry, international recognition of the unrecognized country will enhance stability. This position is supported by the country's parliament. Two opposition legislators stress that Transdniestria is peaceful republic and not the cause of any problems to anyone.

Yevgeny Shevchuk: "Pridnestrovie must engage constructively with Moldova and Ukraine"

Times staff — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 02:04:04 -0600

Pridnestrovie has to normalize its relations with the governments of Ukraine and Moldova, and find ways for all three parties to coexist peacefully in a shared space. That is the opinion of PMR Parliamentary Speaker Yevgeny Shevchuk. The young pro-democracy politician says that "they are our neighbors and we should agree on the terms of living with them."