The Kremlin prepares to solve the Transdniestrian dispute and unify Moldova. If the plan is successful, Russia will prove to the whole world that the non-accession to NATO is the most appropriate way of reestablishing territorial integrity,” the Russian paper Kommersant says.

According to the publication, Chisinau and Tiraspol try to strengthen the dialogue initiated by President Vladimir Voronin and the separatist leader Igor Smirnov this April.

Kommersant says that Moscow finalizes the preparations for uniting Moldova and Transdniestria. This March, the Russian Foreign Ministry and the State Duma said that in the CIS area, the Transdniestrian conflict has the greatest chances of being solved.

For the first time in seven years, early in April Voronin and Smirnov had a telephone conversation and then held a meeting. Recently, the Moldovan Speaker Marian Lupu has met the president of the Transdniestrian Supreme Soviet Evghenii Shevchuc in Brussels. The two officials stressed the necessity of resuming the talks in the 5+2 format as soon as possible.

Russia wants to play a leading role in the reconciliation between Moldova and Transdniestria, as it considers this an important project of its foreign policy, Kommersant says.

Referring to sources in the administration of the Russian president, Kommersant says that the negotiating process will soon make considerable progress. “Moscow will organize a meeting between Voronin and Smirnov on Russian territory. In the presence of the Russian president, the two will shake their hands and will designate the representatives that will work out a political solution and Transdniestria’s status,” the paper reads.

According to the paper, in exchange for its support, the Kremlin expects that the Moldovan authorities will strengthen the permanent neutrality status to confirm that Moldova will not join NATO. Moscow will ask for additional guarantees from Moldovan given that Ukraine and Georgia intend to join NATO // Reporter.MD


Publication date: 20 May 2008   

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