Transnistrian Conflict on November 1–15, 2008

Social-economic situation

Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov visited Moscow in early November to seek economic and financial assistance from Russian authorities over the international financial crisis. On that occasion, ad-interim foreign minister Vladimir Yastrebceac has revealed a truth, saying that “Transnistria is experienced in receiving help from Russia”RU. Indeed, the truth is that the Transnistrian regime has survived over years thanks to Russia’s support.

Exports by key Transnistrian economic agents, the Metallurgical Plant, the Ribnita-based Cement Factory, textile manufacturers, etc., are on the decline because of the international financial crisis. The inflation rate for January-September 2008 exceeded 25 percent. Prices are on the rise; in particular, prices of meat have increased by 74 percent, milk by 30 percent, rice by 300 percent, industrial goods by 14 percent, services by 22 percent, etc. The opposition media in Transnistria, particularly Novaya Gazeta quizzes over beggary by Transnistrian officials in Moscow after much precedent assistance has disappeared.

This year, the number of jobseekers in Transnistria has decreased by approximately 4,000 people compared with 2007. This evolution is linked to the strong exodus of people from the region, rather than to the rise of the number of jobs. The unemployment indemnity in Transnistria accounts for about 35 dollars, while the medium salary in budgetary sector counts for approximately 117 dollars. Therefore, Transnistrian residents choose to get register as jobseekers and leave the secessionist enclave to earn at least twofold higher salaries.

New pretexts to keep “frozen” relations between Chisinau and Tiraspol

On November 3, 2008, Transnistrian border guards obstructed President Vladimir Voronin to visit his natal village in order to attend the sanctification of a new church built under his patronage there. They invoked an order by Transnistrian administration and a direct indication by Igor Smirnov in this respect. On the other hand, Minister of Reintegration Vasile Sova has stated that “the participation of Moldova’s president in that ceremony was thoroughly coordinated with the Transnistrian administration as required to do. These actions by Transnistrian administration are certainly a provocation, which has unfortunately become a tradition. But they are also an example of a rough lack of respect for sentiments of the faithful, Christian traditions and even for the Russian Orthodox Church.” In this context, the official news agency Moldpres has said: “Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov has avoided any contacts with Vladimir Voronin in the last months; he cancelled all planned meetings invoking the necessity to be provided security even when the Moldovan side proposes meetings in Tiraspol. According to observers, the provocation arranged by Igor Smirnov proves that the Transnistrian leader is afraid both of Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, the Metropolitan Church of Moldova, and all Orthodox Church.”

Transnistrian administration not willing to discuss new initiatives with Moldovan authorities

Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov met Russian Ambassador to Moldova Valery Kuzimin on November 10, 2008. He assured the Russian ambassador that the November 6-schedulled meeting with President Voronin was cancelled because Moldovan authorities misunderstood the Transnistrian administration. The Transnistrian leader stressed that he will not discuss new initiatives with Moldovan authorities as long as they do not respond to the April 11, 2008 initiatives to sign a friendship and cooperation agreement. The same decision was reconfirmed the next day during a meeting between Transnistrian officials and OSCE Special Envoy Heikki Talvitie. Mr. Talvitie stated that he would like to have a clear impression about points of view of Chisinau and Tiraspol before the OSCE annual ministerial summit, which will take place in Helsinki on December 4–5, 2008 and will discuss the Transnistrian problem.

OSCE efforts to approach positions of Chisinau and Tiraspol

The OSCE organised a seminar on analysis of conflicts and ways to settle them, in Odessa on December 10–11, 2008. Participants concluded that the peaceful settlement of the Transnistrian conflict does not have an alternative. It is worth to note that starting 1994 all seminars of this kind held under auspices of many organisations have drawn the same conclusion.

Tiraspol Supreme Soviet accuses Moldova of destabilising Transnistria’s economy

The Supreme Soviet in Tiraspol released a statement on November 13, accusing Moldova of destabilising the economic situation in Transnsitria by imposing the double taxation of Transnistrian economic agents after introducing the customs control on the Transnistrian section of the Moldova-Ukraine border on March 3, 2006. In this context, Transnistrian legislators demand the Smirnov administration to consider the situation before December 1, 2008 in order to take adequate measures and minimise the effects of the double taxation; to consider the possibility of appealing to EUBAM observers to prevent the entry of objects which have a limited circuit in Moldova, including drugs, in the Transnistria-controlled region; to take actions in order to prevent the degradation of confidence between the parties involved in the Transnistrian conflict.

Transnistrian Supreme Soviet combating own myths

On November 14, the commission for external relations of the Transnistrian Supreme Soviet released a propagandistic booklet aimed to combat 10 myths about TransnistriaRU. The booklet was released after Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov stated during a November 3 meeting with a representative of the security commission, Oleg Gudimo, that the quality of propaganda is very bad. The majority of the ten myths seem to be invented in order to produce pretexts to combat them easily. But true myths about Transnistria are not combated at all. For example, the myth about three official languages. Why Transnistrian legislators do not try to answer questions such as which is the proportion of newspapers, books published in Moldovan and Ukrainian languages and those published in Russian language; do high-ranking functionaries in Transnistria speak fluently all three official languages or taxpayers must speak one language only which suits these functionaries; are sittings of the Supreme Soviet translated in other official languages like in Moldova; are all normative acts translated into the three languages; how many websites do Transnistria have in Moldovan and Ukrainian languages etc. Or, another example is to combat the myth about the right of the Transnistrian people to self-determination. The Transnistrian regime has chosen the name of Transnistrian Moldovan Republic, but does this mean that the Moldovan people from the left bank of the Dniester has self-determined there? Why the Moldovan people should self-determine separately on the two different banks of the Dniester? This is absurd and the fact that the Bender municipality located on the right bank of the Dniester is regarded as located on the left bank is a proof in this regard, etc.

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