Russia will preserve territorial integrity of Moldova and Transdnestr's special status

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Meeting of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev with Transdnestr President Igor Smirnov was not publicized, the media were not allowed even for ceremonial photography. Only after the talks, Mr. Smirnov, alone and for a short time, appeared before journalists to make a statement on being ready to negotiate with Moldovan leadership. Kommersant Daily Sep 4 quoted Smirnov to say that Moscow ''will act as a guarantor of execution of all agreements that will be achieved in the course of Moldovan-Transnestrian negotiations.''

The daily suggests that ''by recognizing the two Caucasian republics, Moscow has decided, at the same time, to demonstrate to the whole world, using the Transdnestr example, that it is capable of solving territorial conflicts by political means — if it is not, as was in the case with Georgia, pushed to act differently by somebody's aggressive action. Moreover, Russia already has a plan of action in the Transdnestr direction, of which Medvedev's meetings with Voronin and Smirnov were part. If the former was ready to help Moscow to get crowned with peacekeeper's laurels, Igor Smirnov was a tougher negotiator.'' ''Smirnov made many harsh statements, and we had to use all the arsenal of measures to bring out constructivity in him,'' Kommersant quotes a source close to the negotiations' quarters.

On the other hand, the daily accounts, Smirnov was promised that Russian federal educational and healthcare programs would be extended for his republic; the issue of direct payment of pensions to citizens of the Russian Federation residing in TMR from Russian sources would be solved. According to sources in Russian President's administration, Moscow intends to approach the problem's ultimate settlement, which could occur soon. ''Any meeting between Smirnov and Voronin can lead to a joint statement or some memorandum.'' Moscow, according to the sources, aims at a realistical political solution of the conflict based on preserving territorial integrity of Moldova and special status for TMR. It still has to be decided, what the status is to be, Kommersant cites Russian Foreign Ministry's Ambassador-at-Large Valery Nesterushkin. ''The atmosphere there is different than that in the Caucasus, so we are speaking of real chances.''

Chisinau is ready for this and for making several more concessions to Tiraspol. ''We accept a guaranteed status of Transdnestr, their having their own authorities, constitution, legislative initiative. They will also retain the right to exit Moldova in case it loses the existing international legal subjectivity,'' a high-ranking official close to Moldova's President Voronin assured Kommersant.

Sep 8, negotiators from Russia, Ukraine, OSCE, USA, and EU are planning to meet in Vienna to discuss ways to reconcile Chisinau and Tiraspol.