The only right way for Moldova is to recognize Tansdnestr: Igor Smirnov

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“Visit to the Russian Federation had to do not only with the hearings in the State Duma on the issues of unrecognized states. We had a task to present information refuting false statements of Mr. Voronin (Vladimir Voronin, president of Moldova – REGNUM) that recently appeared in the media. This is the today's approach of Moldavian politicians – to present their wishes as reality through the media,” REGNUM quotes Transdnestr president Igor Smirnov to state on March 18 at a press conference while commenting on the outcomes of official visit to Russia.

On the Moldovan-Transdnestr conflict settlement, Transdnestr president has noted that there is a possibility of dialog, normalization and building a good neighborly relations only between two independent countries. “Our aim is to make the settlement fair. And this is only possible if the conflict sides and participants of the settlement mutually respect and trust each other.”

“Mr. Voronin declared that he would never sit down at the negotiations table. By contrast, I have always stated that I will talk with any Moldovan politician, given that this is beneficial for the people of Transdnestr. When they speak of the inviolability of borders between Moldova and Transdnestr, they always forget to add another part to the statement: that is it necessary to recognize equal rights of the sides in the conflict.”

“No forms of pressuring or failure to observe earlier signed agreements should be allowed, in any case. I have stated not once that the only correct way of solving all issues of Moldova – economic, political, and state ones – is recognition of Transdnestr and Moldavia. If we lose this chance, we might lose Moldova itself,” Igor Smirnov affirmed.