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Transnistrian Conflict on July 1–16, 2006

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Vladimir Voronin speaks about the Transnistrian issue

On 11 July President Vladimir Voronin held a press conference during which he discussed with the journalists a number of internal and external policy issues, including the Transnistrian settlement.

According to Voronin, most of the problems that Moldova has had over the past months have been related to the stand adopted by Chisinau in the Transnistrian problem. In particular, the president mentioned that this position is the key negative factor in the Moldovan — Russian relations that have started to deteriorate since the “unfortunate story with the Kozak Memorandum”, which Moldova refused to sign in November 2003. President Voronin showed unhappy with the fact that the Transnistrian region receives financial assistance from Russia and with the signature by the break away leader Igor Smirnov and Russian Deputy Prime Minister of a Protocol of cooperation whereby Russia pledged to grant pensions and other social benefits to Russian citizens living in Transnistria.

Voronin showed satisfied with the results of the activity of the EU Border Assistance Mission at the Moldovan — Ukrainian border, and informed the journalists that soon the Mission will extend its activity to the demarcation line between the Transnistrian region and the rest of Moldova along the Nistru River. Voronin said he would insist that the EU Mission continues working and extends its mandate, as “the task of Moldova and the international community is to completely undermine the economic basis of existence of the Transnistrian leadership”, the Russian news agency Novii Region reports.

At the same time, Voronin said that the majority of big Transnistrian enterprises have already registered in Chisinau and promised that even when a complete political settlement of the conflict is reached the Moldovan authorities will accept “complete budget autonomy of Transnistria”. “We are equally open to consecrate once more, by law, the property rights of Transnistrian entrepreneurs. The issue of ownership is not one about which Moldovan authorities wish to argue”, Voronin stated in his speech during the press conference on 11 July.

Referendum in Transnistria

The referendum regarding the future of the Transnistrian region will take place on 17 September 2006, according to a decision of the regional legislative body from Tiraspol. The voting ballots will include two questions: 1. “Do you believe it possible keeping the course towards international recognition of the Transnistrian Moldovan Republic and its later entry into the Russian Federation?” and 2. “Do you believe it possible giving up independence of the Transnistrian Moldovan Republic and its entry into the Republic of Moldova?”.

The referendum questions were developed on the basis of proposals by Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov. The initial version of the first question referred to the possibility of Transnistria developing priority relations with Russia. According to Smirnov, quoted by Olvia-press, at the recommendation of Russian experts this question was changed, as “Russia can only accept in its composition independent states”.

The second question too differs from its initial version, which was: “Do you believe it possible the entry of TMR in the composition of Moldova?”. In addition, if initially, according to a decision of the 6th Congress of deputies of all levels of Transnistria of 31 March, it was envisaged to organise a referendum to “establish the form of peaceful cohabitation of Transnistria with the Republic of Moldova”, the 17 September referendum is to decide on “Transnistria’s relations with the Russian Federation and with Moldova”.

Smirnov praised the decision of Transnistrian deputies, stating that the referendum will put an end to the process of territorial partition of the former USSR, and in these conditions Transnistria needs to establish its own vector of development, based on the will of the people, Olvia-press reports.

In an interview with the Russian news agency Regnum, the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet in Tiraspol, Evghenii Sevciuk, said the referendum is a response to “the negative position that has been adopted by Moldova regarding Transnistria, and to which Ukraine and the European Union aligned”. “In circumstances of external aggression, when Moldova is claiming the principle of deciding Transnistria’s fate without the Transnistrians, we do not see any other way out than by consulting the Transnistrian people within a referendum,” Sevciuk said. He showed convinced that the Transnistrians will answer positively the first question regarding joining Russia, and will overwhelmingly say “no” to the second question. Asked by Regnum.ru about how it would be possible, technically, for Transnistria to join Russia, Sevciuk said that for this the international recognition of Transnistria will not be necessary, as the referendums in Montenegro and, eventually, Kosovo, will have established the principle of solving conflicts via referendums.

Earlier, both the Moldovan authorities and representatives of the international community, including the EU and the OSCE, said they would not recognise the results of the Transnistrian referendum.

Explosion in a Tiraspol mini bus, seven dead, many injured

Early morning on 6 July, in Tiraspol, an explosion took place in a mini bus killing seven passengers and heavily injuring another 11 passengers. The explosion also injured 10 passengers from a trolleybus stationing at the lights next to the mini bus. Among the victims was a nurse of the Russian military hospital in Tiraspol and two Russian peacekeepers.

The incident is the most lethal one registered in the Transnistrian region since the military hostilities on the Nistru in spring — summer 1992, and has left a profound mark on the region, which, despite being in a state of conflict, has otherwise become accustomed to a peaceful life.

The Transnistrian authorities declared 8 July day of mourning in the region. Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin sent his condolences to the relatives of the deceased and proposed to the Transnistrian authorities help in investigating the explosion and healing the wounded. The Moldovan offer was rejected by the Transnistrians who feared Moldovans sought political gain by offering help. In exchange, in Tiraspol arrived a team of Ukrainian explosives specialists and a team of Russian criminal investigators to help the Transnistrian interior bodies with the investigations.

The version of involvement of Moldovan secret services in the explosion, initially voiced by some officials in Tiraspol, was later refuted by the head of the Transnistrian security department, Vladimir Antiufeev. Following some preliminary investigations, he stated on 10 July that the explosion happened on the basis of an artisan bomb, which was to have another target than the passengers of the mini bus. Antiufeev excluded the possibility of the explosive material having originated from the Russian military depots in Colbasna. The causes and authors of the deflagration are still unknown.

The de facto Ministry of State Security of Transnistria has announced a 10,000 USD reward for information on the authors of the explosion and the targets thereof. In parallel, the Tiraspol authorities said they would adopt additional security measures in the public transport in the region.

June 15–30, 2006 July 17–31, 2006