Moldova

Transnistria's leader reluctant to resume talks with Chisinau

July 03, 2009

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The president of the unrecognized Dniester Moldovan republic, a.k.a. Transnistria, Igor Smirnov, has rejected a proposal by the head of the OSCE mission to Moldova, Philip Remler, regarding the resumption of Transnistrian settlement negotiations "without preliminary conditions".

The website of the Dniester leader noted that Remler said at a meeting with Smirnov today that the OSCE was against any preliminary conditions because many problems had accumulated and they should be solved. Smirnov said that he did not share this opinion, since no attempt to meet Moldova's wishes would solve anything.

"We have much experience in this area and a huge package of signed agreements which Moldova has not been observing. Today, we should think of people's problems rather than hold negotiations for the sake of negotiations, as Moldova has been doing," he said.

Smirnov said he had "signals that Moldova is toughening requirements for foreign economic operations in the Dniester region (Transnistria). Chisinau is planning to set up a limited number of crossing points for the import of raw materials and products in the Dniester region. It will be possible to import only via Moldova, which will create new serious problems for Dniester enterprises."

"They have only one goal: to control our export-import flows and levy taxes for their budget," he said.
Smirnov added that "if Moldova steps up economic pressure, the Dniester region will adequately react to this no matter how political dialogue will develop".

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