Alexey Martynov: Voronin wants war with Transdnestr

Read it in Russian

Director of the Russian-Transdnestr Information and Analytical Center Alexey Martynov commented to REGNUM on the resolutions of the Moldavian parliament “on the denunciation of the agreement on the principles of peaceful resolution of the armed conflict in the Transdnestr region of the Republic of Moldova” and “on the denunciation of the memorandum on the principles of normalization of relations between the Republic of Moldova and Transdnestr” drafted by MPs Valeriu Kosarchuk and Vitaly Pavlichenko:

“This initiative of the Moldavian MPs which, as I understand, will be very shortly submitted for the parliament’s consideration, reflects the desire of part of the Moldavian elite to solve the Transdnestr problem by force. These two documents are the basis of the Transdnestr peace process.” The agreement on the principles of peaceful resolution of the armed conflict in the Transdnestr region of the Republic of Moldova signed by Moldova and Transdnestr in 1992 and initialed by all the guarantor-countries, stipulates the stoppage of military actions, while the memorandum on the principles of normalization of relations between the Republic of Moldova and Transdniestria provides for not only political but also economic mechanisms of Moldavian-Transdnestr relations during the negotiating period. By the way, this memorandum was one of the key legislative bases for Moldova’s accession into the WTO. I wonder: will they in the WTO expel Moldova if it denounces the memorandum?"

“The Explanatory Note to the draft resolution denouncing the memorandum says that Transdnestr has been repeatedly breaking the memorandum – which is a lie. The memorandum was observed in full before 2001 but was frozen by Moldova when Voronin-led Communists came into power in that country. Transdnestr was prevented from carrying out free foreign economic activities – the right it was supposed to enjoy until the determination of its status. In fact, Moldova grossly violated the memorandum on a unilateral basis and has been violating it ever since.”

“The same can be said about the Explanatory Note to the draft resolution denouncing the agreement of 1992 charging Russia with violating the agreement and turning from a settlement guarantor into a conflicting party. Meanwhile, no single person has been killed throughout Russia’s peacemaking activities in the conflict region. In March 2006, Russia prevented a humanitarian disaster when Moldova put Transdnestr into an economic blockade with the support of Ukraine and with the connivance of the world community.”

“I still hope that the Moldavian MPs will be wise and sober enough to reject the resolutions, but if these two basic documents are still denounced, the situation in Transdnestr will fall back to the 1992 status quo and 14 years of talks will be made null and void.”

“The demilitarization of the Transdnestr region, i.e. its liberation from the Russian armed and peacekeeping forces, Transdnestr troops and militarized units” mentioned in the Explanatory Note to the draft resolution denouncing the agreement of 1992, in fact, means the resumption of war between Moldova and Transdnestr. Moldova will provoke a new armed conflict and will try to involve NATO troops therein. However, one should remember that in 1992, the Transdnestr people already won the right to independent existence and their own development. That’s why now too they will all stand up to protect the right they have won at the price of blood. To do this, the Transdnestr Moldavian Republic has quite an efficient army. Of course, they will not be able to oppose NATO troops, but I think the US and the EU will not bring their troops in the region as they will not want to provoke an open conflict with Russia. Neither Russia nor the West need this."

“Still, it is obvious that the initiative of the Moldavian MPs has been coordinated with President Voronin, who fully controls the parliament. Even more, I am sure that it is his personal initiative. Obviously, Voronin is out for blood. Voronin wants war with Transdnestr, and the world community is shutting its eyes to it.”