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Transnistria and Tensions in Southeastern Europe

Manuela Paraipan - 11/11/2005

The Transnistrian Republic recently celebrated 15 years since it declared itself as a separate entity of Moldova. The international community often calls it "the Russian enclave". The enclave has today all the attributes of a semi functional, yet unrecognized state. It has its own Constitution, Parliament called the Supreme Soviet, army, currency, flag, etc. On the socio-economical level the state is the one in control of everything starting from education, mass media, to the financial sector. Despite the tensions between Chisinau and Tyraspol, Transnistria maintains relations with Moldova on political, social and economical levels.

In this regard, the European community advised the regime from Chisinau to be careful when extending privileges to the citizens of enclaves such as Transnistria, because they are creating a precedent difficult to overcome.

Igor Smirnov the President of Transnistria declared to Reuters at the festivities that the policy of the Moldavian Republic towards his country can only be named "state robbery", insisting that the fate of Transnistria can only be decided by its own citizens, regardless of the West agenda in South Eastern Europe.

Both leaders, Igor Smirnov and Vladimir Voronin are considered to be close to President Putin's regime, the difference being that Voronin had to show some flexibility regarding the West's aim of democratizing the former Soviet republics, for fear of being swept of by the so-called orange wave of political changes.

President Smirnov announced the upcoming December elections for the Supreme Soviet, trying to prove that his regime encourages a pluralistic political participation. Obviously, his attempt is not taken seriously by anyone, that's precisely why OSCE, together with the EU publicly declared that the international communities consider the elections as illegitimate.

The Russian diplomat, Valeri Nesterushkin said that the withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria was postponed because of the tensioned regional situation, not because of Russia's agenda in the region.


On the other hand, Kremlin's regime categorically rejected the idea of having Western troops in Transnistria. Apparently, they believe that a foreign military presence in the enclave is trespassing the international law, but the same international law seem not be applicable to the presence of the Russian troops. President Putin proved once more that his regime puts words into action, despite the European Union or US's suggestions or veiled warnings.

The Defense Minister Serghei Ivanov announced Russia's plan to modernize the defense system of the Independent State Community. The Russian Federation will provide the best system of S 300 missiles to some countries of the Independent State Community, "depending on Russia's strategic interests". Belarus, the last dictatorship in Europe, gets several S 300 systems to counterattack the possible "threats from Eastern Europe".

These type of Russian missiles are very powerful; they can simultaneous destroy 24 targets which are at hundred of km distance from one another.

The struggle for the region's leadership is at its peak regarding not only the continental part of the South Eastern Europe, but also the supremacy on the Black Sea.

With the new leadership in place, the Romanian President Traian Basescu emphasized the importance of the Black Sea and the role Romania could play in the South-Eastern Europe. The Black Sea has become a new Mediterranean Sea" declared President Basescu. By focusing the Romanian foreign policy on democratizing the enlarged Black Sea region, President Basescu said that the "trafficking in drugs, human beings and weapons" would also have an impact on the ongoing conflicts of Transnistria, Abhazia, Southern Osetia and Nagorno-Karabah."

President Basescu outlined that 50% of the energy needed in EU states came from the enlarged Black Sea region at present, and in the near future the percentage will most likely be around 70%.

He further opined, "It is not enough for democratic politicians to win elections" in what were known as totalitarian states of Ukraine and Georgia, if they cannot destroy the totalitarian structures and then completely reform the state institutions.

As, for the ambition of Romania to have an important role in the region, Basescu said "Romania does not want to rule the Black Sea region […] the only thing we want is to warn the democratic states that we have a major security problem here. If Romania has got a security problem, it automatically affects all NATO members."


The Press Department of the Moldavian Presidency released a press declaration stating that President Basescu and President Voronin had a phone conversation about the crisis of Transnistria. Voronin expressed appreciation for Romania's view on a solution to the conflict in Transnistria and for the way Bucharest authorities were promoting such view in front of European and international authorities. Voronin and Basescu agreed to keep on informing each other on the topic. As for bilateral relations, the two presidents decided to meet in Romania after returning from the UNO Session due in September in New York, and talk about the future terms between the two states.


If, to a certain extent the Moldavian President would be interested to cooperate with Romania in Transnistria's case, the Brussels officials seem to have a different plan. Romania was advised to stay away from the transnistrian problem; at least until it will join the European Union.

Adrian Severin a member of the Romanian Parliament and a former Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed his view on the topic:

"Romania is indeed interested in the Transnistria's issue. This frozen conflict situated on the Moldavian Republic's territory affects Romania indirectly. As NATO border and future border of the EU, Romania has to be responsible and provide efficient solutions."


Summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

The leaders of the 12 former soviet republics met in Kazan (Tatarstan) to discuss the future of the organization.

The Commonwealth of Independent States was born in 1991 when the Russian Federation eventually collapsed.

At the summit it was obvious that the CIS is confronted with several tensions on all fronts. Three of its members (Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan) have adopted a pro-Western policy.

In Ukraine especially, the new government has taken a clearly pro-Western stance contrasted to their predecessors' close relationship with the Kremlin. The new government of Georgia has likewise taken a pro-Western and anti-Kremlin stance. Moldova, although ruled by a political class which subscribed itself to the communist political platform seems to be quietly drifting toward the West, away from the CIS.

The West sees CIS as a tool that allows Russia to keep its influence over the post-Soviet states. Serghei Lavrov declared after the summit that Russia might not sell oil and gas at preferential prices for countries such as Ukraine, Georgia and the Moldavian Republic. The message was therefore loud and clear: you either go along with our policies, and then we will treat you as friends, or Russia will change its tactics toward you.