Roman KONOPLEV. The official blog

Pridnestrovie’s future: Liberal economy, Freedom and security

2010-09-18T10:05:00.005+03:00

Independent report.

Introduction

Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica is going to celebrate its 20 anniversary since it declared independence.

The people who created the republic in a nation-wide unity became disappointed by the situation in Pridnestrovie today, after they devolved power on the leaders of the country.

Many things happened since 1990. There was a military conflict with Moldova in 1991-1992, a transition to market economy and serious transformations in the European and world scale.

The change of the political elites has been an urgent thing for many times. There have always appeared certain prerequisites to different changes. One could see new faces appearing on the political stage. Different experts talked about president Smirnov’s resignation and they were trying to promote “young and up-and-coming” people instead. Still, the boot is on the other foot.

At the moment, Igor Smirnov is still the president of Pridnestrovie, and Pridnestrovian society is now watching all possible imitations of “harmonization”, “modernization” and other positive tendencies played by the press-services of executive and legislative powers of Pridnestrovie instead of profound and reasonable reforms.

It is difficult to calculate whether any changes are going to happen in the medium term. The state propagandists calm down the society, but most of the labor pool has already left the republic and the young generation doesn’t see its future in Pridnestrovie. These are not only young and energetic citizens who leave the republic – children and pensioners leave Pridnestrovie following their children and parents. Despite good weather conditions, Pridnestrovie is not a region with a warm existence in one's old age because all the medical institutions of Pridnestrovie totally degraded.

Global financial crisis that covered all the neighbor regions and the key donor of Pridnestrovie – Russian Federation - exacerbated all the destructive processes in Pridnestrovian economy. The growth of unemployment led to the fact that the republic is inhabited by pensioners, children and public sector workers. So, the imbalance between rich and poor is increasing. Prices and utility rates have been rising quickly since 1990s.

If the situation doesn’t change, experts expect collapse of the social, health and municipal infrastructure spheres in Pridnestrovie. The territory of the republic is becoming condemned.

Still, state propagandists are sure that Pridnestrovie is moving towards recognition, that the life of the population is becoming better year after year, that the officials take care about investments, and that the epoch of poverty and economic chaos skirted Pridnestrovie.

The main goal of the report is not only to show truth about bad situation in Pridnestrovie. This is a thing well-known among the people, despite propagandist clichés. The main aim of the report is to demonstrate some ways out of the dead end, to show how it is possible to bring reforms to this soviet model of state structure which does not correspond either contemporary tendencies of post-industrial economy or the demands of the younger generation – the generation of young people who immigrate from Pridnestrovie as soon as they have such a chance.

The report consists of four parts which demonstrate the advantages of the reforms in different spheres of state structure, economy and internal policies. The aspects of the economic security and Pridnestrovie’s survival in the context of contemporary geopolitical tendencies are also described in the report.

The report is tailored to general reader, in spite of the fact that it is outspread in the Internet. A small edition is planned to be distributed among people who do not possess the technologies of modern communications.

Public administration crisis

Pridnestrovie fell heir to the administrative-command system of the Soviet Union. This system is introduced in Pridnestrovie in the most pitiful variant. The growth of number of public sector workers, who are, in fact, feeding on the taxpayers, non-transparent governance models, overblown ministries, corruption verticals and inadequate legislation brought Pridnestrovie to the situation when job in the public sector gives absolutely secure opportunities for personal gain.

Pridnestrovie lost its self-reliance soon at a certain period. The officials started mouching on the non-transparent and multibillion dividends in the gas sphere.

The same happened with the national enterprises at the beginning of 1990s. The officials – directors of the factories – turned national enterprises to objects through which they could absorb multibillion interests. Generally, the scheme was simple – export-import kickbacks when cash money was laundered. After the depletion of the reserves of the enterprises, a mechanism to avoid economic collapse was found – it was privatization.

The officials who could not administrate enterprises had to invite new owners. Since then, the state had to settle for tax dollars and the new owners made profit – this profit could have been made by the state itself with the effective management.

Similar situation came about in the agricultural sector when the-state-officials-directors dismantled the rests of the “soviet luxury items” - reclamation works, etc. Agricultural and industrial sector which was preyed upon by the state officials was transferred into private hands, but these individual businessmen need multimillion investments to remanufacture the production in this sphere. Thanks to such a tendency Pridnestrovie today looks like a Russian little out-of-the-way place, where grain crop and colza are produced instead of vegetables and fruits which Pridnestrovie used to grow for the whole Soviet Union.

More than 50% of the population left Pridnestrovie and it is a serious problem. The current ratio of the taxpayers and dependents is 1:4 – it means that state can’t meet its obligations in such spheres as medicine, pension and welfare schemes, education and science.

So, today military men and state officials have priority of the young generation and of the specialists of different spheres. If nothing changes – the future Pridnestrovie will be the country of soldiers and officials. So, one can't help but wonder – who and why will support them?

Investment crisis

In spite of regular populist affirmations of the propagandists, Pridnestrovie has never been a territory with investment attractiveness. Along with the objective reasons coming from the problem of the status of the republic and information confrontation with Moldova, the more serious problem for Pridnestrovie is its soviet administrative governance model. It is enough to look at a much more successful example - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. It is an unrecognized country with the population of 200 000 people and the territory of 3300 km2. The country is financially supported by Turkey and the financial support is about 3 billion dollars during 35 years of existence of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. This country has been demonstrating quick economic growth during the last ten years. According to CIA World Factbook, Northern Cyprus’s GDP 2007 was $1.829 billion, per capita GDP - $11 700. It is almost a European index.

Let’s see the same data about Pridnestrovie. The territory of Pridnestrovie is 4163 km2, the de-facto population is about 350000 people and Russia’s financial support is about $2.5 billion during 20 years. According to data provided by Ministry of economy of Pridnestrovie in 2009, Pridnestrovian GDP was $960.9 million, per capita GDP – $1830.2.

It is important to note that Northern Cyprus economy is mostly represented by the services sector – 69.1%. Other sectors – agricultural: 8.6%, industry (consumer goods industry). Services sector and tourism are not developed in Pridnestrovie at all, but in comparison with agricultural-beach Northern Cyprus, Pridnestrovie looks like industrial Eldorado. Unfortunately, it is almost non-competitive in open economy. They like to be proud of the morally obsolete USSR industrial giants in Pridnestrovie.

It should be noted that Northern Cyprus has plenty going for Pridnestrovie because of its good resort location, but Northern Cyprus used to be behind Pridnestrovie 30 years ago because it has more “problematic” conflict with the Greek part of the island.

Northern Cyprus as contrasted with Pridnestrovie, was into luck – they didn’t have USSR, planned economy, command-and-control central planning system which abetted corruption and degradation of the public authorities.

The investment crisis is a fundamental reason of all Pridnestrovie’s misfortunes in the economic and social politics. The depletion of the middle class from Pridnestrovie led to many related problems: growing drug and alcohol use, smoking, veneral diseases and tuberculosis. Not a single country of the Commonwealth of Independent States can be a competitor for Pridnestrovie speaking about these “hard” criteria, not to speak of the European countries.

Liquidation of illusions

We got used to state propaganda about “socially oriented state”, about Pridnestrovie’s authorities’ constant concern about either global crisis or flood, or some other world-shaking troubles.

To analyze the nature of such mythopoetics, one should estimate several criteria of Pridnestrovie’s budget policy orientation.

The head of “Finances and credit” subdepartment of Pridnestrovian State University, Ph.D. in Economics, Yuriy Safronov gives some figures and data which differ from those given by Ministry of Economy of Pridnestrovie. According to Mr. Safronov, the real Per capita GDP in Pridnestrovie is about $600 – $800. Ministry of Economy of Pridnestrovie speaks about some $1830.2. Anyway, both $600 and $1800 are close to Per capita GDP of such countries as Bangladesh - $1500, Nepal - $900, Afghanistan - $600, Republic of Burkina Faso - $1300, Myanmar - $1200, Cambodia - $2100, Cameroon - $2400, Chad - $1600, Cote d’Ivoire - $1700, Ghana - $1500, Tanzania - $1400, Guinea - $1100, Papua New Guinea - $2300, Haiti - $1400, Honduras - $3700. Pridnestrovie’s Media like to poke fun at Honduras.

Per capita GDP Statistics of the countries that are globally classified as “socially oriented” highlight key points: Canada - $38 700, Sweden - $37 300, Denmark - $37 200, Australia - $36 700, Finland - $35 200. Speaking about our “ex-colleagues from the socialist camp”: Czech Republic - $23 700, Estonia - $20 200, Slovenia - $26 700, Slovakia - $18 700, Latvia - $16 300, Bulgaria - $11 300, Romania - $10 700, Belarus - $9 800, Macedonia - $8 200.

It is important to understand that on the basis of per capita GDP it is possible to calculate budget expenses for different articles of expenditure individually for every citizen of Pridnestrovie.

The population of Pridnestrovie was 730 000 in 1990. According to the Report of the Ministry of Economy of Pridnestrovie “About social and economic development of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica in 2009”, economically active population, including both employed and unemployed citizens, both businessmen and budget workers, as of 1January 2010 is 154 300 people. Taking into account the fact that 521 400 people are registered to be resident and that about 30% of them haven’t actually lived in the republic for many years, there is no reason to believe that propagandist slogans about prosperous and successful socially-oriented state have never inspired confidence.

According to Pridnestrovie’s Economy Ministry, healthcare budgetary expenditures equaled 2.87% of GDP.

Taking into account the corruption, everyone can estimate possible “defects” of this figure. Nevertheless, our purpose is to trace the authorities’ attention to this or that sphere. That’s why we will try to believe the Ministry of Economy of Pridnestrovie and take the figure given by their report – 2.87% of GDP - healthcare spending.

Let’s look at the same data in the other countries. According to the statistics of World Health Organization: Bangladesh – 3.1%, Nepal – 5.7%, Burkina Faso – 6.4%, Cambodia – 6.0%, Cameroon – 5.2%, Chad – 3.6%, Cote d’Ivoire – 3.8%, Guinea – 5.7%, Haiti – 8.0%, Papua New Guinea – 3.2%, and finally “the very same” Honduras – 7.4%.

For a change one can look at the example of the most close to us European neighbors – Romania – 3.6%, Poland – 6.2%, Serbia – 7.6%, Belarus – 6.4%, Bulgaria – 6.9%.

Eventually, let’s look at the countries which have international reputation of “socially oriented” states: Finland – 7.6%, Sweden – 8.9%, Canada – 10.0%, Norway – 8.7%, Australia – 8.7%.

Similar situation can be found in the educational sphere. According to Pridnestrovian Ministry of Economy’s report, 50% of the graduates of the organizations of professional education get job placements. In practice state suggests job placement with $65-85 salary, which, in fact, is predisposing young specialists to immediate emigration. Usually this tendency is the predominant one.

According to Pridnestrovie’s Economy Ministry, education budgetary expenditures equaled 2.14% of GDP. Let’s make a comparison: Bangladesh 2.56%, Guatemala 3.1%, Nicaragua 3.14%, Ethiopia 5.49%, Ghana 5.44%, Uganda 5.24%, Belarus 5.21%, Australia 5.16%, Canada 4.93%, Cote d’Ivoire 4.46%, Bulgaria 4.24%, Cameroon 3.87%, Cambodia 1.6%, Burkina Faso 4.51%, Jamaica 6.53%, Finland 6.1%, Denmark 8.26%, Iceland 7.72%, Norway 6.59%, Sweden 7.02%. Taking into account per capita GDP in the leading “socially oriented” countries in the world, the reader won’t find it difficult to estimate the real parameters of the healthcare and education budgetary financing “there” and to compare the situation in those countries with that in Pridnestrovie.

State propagandists are sure that the authorities of Pridnestrovie are building “socially oriented state”. However, simple mathematical calculation demonstrates that, in fact, citizens of Pridnestrovie do not live in the “socially oriented country” but rather in “military and bureaucratic” country. Moreover, the objects of social infrastructure degrade year after year.

The expenses for the officials and for defence and law enforcement agencies are state secrets, and the official reports published by Ministry of Economy do not let citizens into the secret. There are no such “secrets” anywhere in the world except, may be, North Korea.

Keeping such information from citizens is not usually produced by the interests of security. It is just a propagandist trick. However, one doesn’t need access to a military secret to understand through the fog of propaganda the very core of things: there is no “socially-oriented” Pridnestrovie. It is impossible, taking into account GDP of Pridnestrovie and its infrastructure. The situation is even worse because of depopulation. Government revenues are not even enough to depress enormous wolfish appetites of the exaggerated and absolutely corrupt state machine and members of power ministries.

After 20 years of propaganda, citizens of Pridnestrovie have the only thing – military and bureaucratic state. The state with a very difficult present and future buried in mystery. The earlier the constructive way out of the situation will be found, the sooner Pridnestrovie will get some chances to become something worth of attention and respect.

Propagandist clichés dead ends

State propagandists and “system” politicians often keep current the theme of “harmonization” of Pridnestrovie and Russia. They explain their position saying that Pridnestrovie and Russia have common social, cultural, religious and geopolitical space. The question is - is there any use to eat cake and have it? How are economy and state administration correlated to Dostoevsky, Suvorov and Orthodox Church?

The notorious “harmonization” unfortunately appeared to be one more simulated bubble, which distends from time to time and then blows up at the worst possible moment.

The same situation is with the economic growth which stopped at the moment when European consumers didn’t want to buy Pridnetrovian products. Development sphere is the same bubble which blew up and disappeared.

All the imitations can only have influence on some groups of the society, mostly on pensioners.

Moreover, it is not worth talking about economic developments and investments. Pridnestrovian pensioners are not the investors. A real investor doesn’t need any illusions or imitations. A real investor needs positive economic environment for business development. Neither today’s Pridnestrovian elites nor regular taking the name of Russia in vain create such an environment. There is no good economic environment in Pridnestrovie.

To start discussing the problem of “harmonization” one needs at least to get an idea and to form a clear view of modern Russia – not through TV series but through analyzing Russia’s strategy.

Russian Federation today is not great speaking about Legislation and financial institutions, but it has its own oriented economy. It is market economy based on European principles. It is looking up to export of petroleum.

The political class of Russia is divided into different groups today. Part of the Russian elite is sure that it would be good to expand export opportunities of Fuel & Energy Complex. This group is represented by Putin and Sechin. Medvedev and his experts have alternative ideas.

The president of Russian Federation and his experts are sure that Russian economy should kick the petroleum habit. This part of the Russian elite supposes that attention should be paid at industrial capacities – raw material processing, modern technologies, aircraft industry and other spheres that could stop the migration outflow of specialists to the USA and Europe. This is the thing about “modernization”, and Russian Federation has some reserves to bring such initiatives to life – the country has oil and gas resources, and in comparison with Pridnestrovie, Russia “has” many things.

Both groups of Russian elite have one thing in common – their intension to follow Western standards in all the spheres of economy and public life. From the point of view of Russian political class, Russia doesn’t have another way but to build open peaceful country with attractive administrative and legal environment. However, the authorities of Russian Federation often emphasize that Russian “rules of game” do not correspond to modern western standards of liberal economy.

Russian experts and politicians often admit that they are not “harmonized” enough with such standards, that there are serious problems speaking about European standards in the sphere of civil rights and corruption. “Oil” budget is disappearing because of the problems in the management system, because of non-professionalism and corrupt state managers. Russia is stable only because of Fuel & Energy Complex.

However, Russia is likely to be critical, and the country listens to outside criticism. That’s why Russia is capable of changing. Pridnestrovie, unlike Russia, can neither be critical nor listen to criticism from outside.

Today’s Pridnestrovie’s authorities hear and listen only to themselves. Twenty years of self-admiration is too long for any critical self-concept. It is something age-specific, it can’t be cured.

Economy of Freedom

Pridnestrovie, without oil and gas, without any financial resources for modernization can’t put into action any of the Russian models mentioned above.

“The harmonization” of Pridnestrovie and Russian Federation can appear only as some appendix – just for fun and not for long, because Russia will have to make away with all the “histomas” which can prevent Russia from integrating to European and world economy.

Pridnestrovie can become an autarkic state only if large-scale investments will be brought to the region.

Speaking about changeover from “military and bureaucratic” state to “socially oriented” one – the beloved story of Pridnestrovie’s state propagandists, one should note, that such a changeover can only occur if there is a long “foot bridge”. What is meant here is liberal model. It is a model of a state with open economy, well-disposed towards external business and towards somebody’s positive experience.

One of the examples of effectiveness of such a model can be both the experience of state with unregulated status – Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, or new states – Georgia’s experience is one of the most interesting. This country is developing quickly despite military conflict. It develops because of the government’s effective work. Georgia’s economy is the best example of a good place for business, for foreign investments. They put out of existence corrupt administrators. Georgia is an example of a free country with liberal economy, the standards of which are estimated much higher than those of the countries of Eastern Europe.

As for Pridnestrovie, it should look at least like Georgia to attract investor from Russia, the Ukraine and Belarus, but good economic environment can’t appear through propaganda and all-possible imitations.

Investors can come to Pridnestrovie only if it will be better for them to work in Pridnestrovie than at home. Nobody wants to invest capital for charitable purposes. Nobody wants to feed bureaucracy. Business should bring money, so Pridnestrovie should become attractive, at least in the eyes of Russian citizens. Business should feel better in Pridnestrovie than in Russia. This is the only way. It means that Pridnestrovie’s economy should start corresponding to all the world economic standards earlier than Russia. It is possible to keep pace with Russia, but it won’t solve Pridnestrovie’s problems. Pridnestrovie should be one step forward to change the situation inside for the better.

Pridnestrovie’s authorities live in the world of prejudices speaking about foreign investments. According to ex-soviet politicians, Western money can bring harm to Pridnestrovie’s nation and statehood.

However, it is interesting to pay attention at EU, USA and Russia. Russia tries to follow western logic – green light to the investments into the economy, red light – to corruption.

To make foreign investors “like” Pridnestrovie, it should first become attractive for Russian investments. It is the most simple axiom – if Pridnestrovie can’t attract business of the most friendly country – Russia, then the problem is neither unregulated status, nor information war, but the arguments of Pridnestrovie’s authorities – they look like bad workers who quarrel with their tools.

Russian business invests capital into the economies of the countries of Eastern and Western Europe, USA, Great Britain, Arabian countries. What is stopping Pridnestrovie’s authorities to attract at least one per cent of these Russian investments? The answer is simple – Pridnestrovie absolutely does not correspond to the standards of modern world economy and does not have any marketability.

Pridnestrovie’s authorities make much of themselves to give external investors any opportunity to make business in Pridnestrovie on favorable terms. Today, if anybody wants to bring investments to Pridnestrovie, it is necessary to solve too many problems – to observe all possible irrational formalities in the field of document control, to feed corrupt state officials and to pay taxes that can’t be compared to all the risks. Moreover, there are no real mechanisms to cover and defend business, because system of law of Pridnestrovie is closed from the international arbitration, ECHR and other structures that can support and defend business in case state starts any abuses.

There is no independent judicial system in Pridnestrovie, and every businessman here knows about corrupt needs of the closed and absolutely untouchable Pridnestrovian court community. In fact, Pridnestrovian judicial system today is a closed caste with criminal group manners. State propagandists can say and write anything, but business never believes propaganda. Every respectful company, every serious investor has own security service which unveils all the myths and puts businessmen off making business in Pridnestrovie.

Some governments, for example in the USA, ban businessmen by legislative action of investing corrupt administrations of other countries. The less corrupt an administration is - the more foreign businessmen invest into a country.

The second important element of successful investment climate is transparency and budget adequacy of the country which is attracting capital. A businessman chooses a bank taking into account reputation criteria of the bank. The same criteria for a country are transparent and adequate budget parameters.

The success of the USA in the period of its becoming consisted in low taxes (2%) and “small” state – here the “small” is not the territory of the country, but the expenses on state machine. The number of state officials and public sector workers in Pridnestrovie is much higher than the number of citizens who work in the real economy.

The expenses also include inadequate standards of financial accounting. Pridnestrovie has been planning to use European standards of accounting records, but nothing happens.

Such an abnormal fiscal policy with a deficit of 50 – 70% is the first and the last reason for foreign business to avoid Pridnestrovie by hook or by crook. That’s why propagandist clichés about the problem of Pridnestrovie’s status lack real grounds. The problem is not the status. The problem is ineffective and corrupt state officials, irrational budget, high taxes and no transparent and accountable “game rules” for business.

Without intense and fundamental changes there are no chances in the investment sphere for Pridnestrovie neither today, nor in a year or in ten years.

National institutions

There are two myths about Igor Smirnov existing in Moldova, Ukraine, Russia and European countries that have been formed during 20 years of Pridnestrovie’s history and that exist today. According to one of them, “Smirnov is a total good”, founding father of the republic, thanks to whom Pridnestrovie exists till today and didn’t disappear. The second myth is opposite to the first one – “Smirnov is an absolute evil”, and as soon as Smirnov is put out of the way, everything will go for the better and Pridnestrovie will become a Klondike from the soviet memories with cheap wine, good rest, fruits and women.

Both of the myths have no ground. The first one has been self-disclosed thanks to Pridnestrovian propaganda, but despite this fact some part of the population of the republic continue to respect their leader who is not wanting in charm, charisma, recklessness and political headpiece.

However, most of the labor pool denied this thesis by their “voting by legs” i.e. through emigration. Smirnov is not “good” for the young generation – 100% of the young people regardless of their nationality or social status do not see their future in Pridnestrovie.

However, the myth about Smirnov as “absolute evil” has no ground as well. The problem is not Smirnov’s personality. The problem is command and administrative governance model that he created thanks to his “soviet” experience of the director of a plant. Still, there existed some control over the regional managers during the soviet time. This control helped to stop corruption processes. It could not help to stop degradation of the state officials in the all-soviet scale. It is useless to jump upon Smirnov today – he uses the experience he has and he is absolutely sure that there are no other ways out of the situation. He is sure that economic security of the European democracies is the propaganda fruit, intrigues of the imperialist wolves, etc.

This command and administrative model – or “military and bureaucratic state” – has lived its own life during all these twenty years and it continues to live “beyond” Smirnov’s personality. This model has been cloning, replicating and it is producing certain instincts for self-preservation. This model is bringing up new generation of “soviet” bureaucracy, localizing and rejecting, as if it were virus, any alien elements. Surely, Smirnov is not the only responsible person for non-magnificent results and for the collapse of economic policy. Political class of Pridnestrovie is responsible for what is happening and for what we see today none the worse than president of Pridnestrovie.

“Military and bureaucratic” state can’t disappear if Smirnov will be changed for “somebody who is younger”. All that talk is buncombe. The presidents and prime-ministers of many European countries are not a year younger than Smirnov. The difference is that neither they nor the political class of those countries lived all their life in the USSR – the country which disappeared and left behind too many problems. The first problem is slave command and administrative mentality of the “crowd, common people”, and “superiors” - those who degraded as the result of dissolution of the country.

The degradation of the elite brought to degradation of all the mechanisms of Pridnestrovie’s activity. Today everybody can see the administration crisis, corruption, the collapse of public services, the decay of public road system, absence of full-fledged health system and welfare. The collapse of pensionary and education spheres is onward.

The problem of Pridnestrovian elite is the problem of conservation of the “soviet” mentality. If you invite these people to visit Germany, Switzerland, any other place – it won’t help, because these people got used to live a little bit different – they create “Germany” for themselves, but they bequeath the same ominous and beggarly “military and administrative” model. This model can’t be hidden by PR – in the end, Russia will have enough of helping local bureaucracy. One day the leading Russian TV channels will announce that “someone is not expected in Moscow anymore”. That will be all about it.

There is a way out of the situation.

It is necessary to make sure that “military and bureaucratic” model will be changed for modern, liberal model at any cost. This modern model can create a field for investments and improve economic situation. After 50 years of investments, Pridnestrovie will have a chance to think about “socially oriented” model. No sooner than in 50 years. There are no other variants.

It is necessary to create a system, where elites will change regularly. It is only regular change of the administration that can provide fatuity of corrupt embedding.

It is neither Igor Smirnov, nor his administration, who realize new opportunities for the country with transparent economy. To make evolution process possible speaking about a new model, one needs to make a certain system of guarantees for the outgoing “post-soviet” Pridnestrovian elite. This system should include a true amnesty in the fiscal and administrative spheres. It is possible to give a new life to the republic by legal methods. It is really possible to turn over a new leaf and to turn a blind eye to all possible sins of today’s administration for the sake of benevolent intentions – to build a modernized economy based on European standards. It is only European-based economy that can be attractive for Russian investors, who choose today where to invest between such countries as USA, Great Britain, Bulgaria, Romania, Czech Republic, etc. It is necessary to make a huge step forward to add Pridnestrovie to this list, because it is important to give the investors a wide economic scope, stable game rules, and to make sure that there are no abuses on the part of bureaucracy.

A transparent economy of the republic would need money, and the incomings of the today’s elite in the economically and politically free Pridnestrovie in the future could become higher than today. And this money will be transparent, net cash, and nobody will feel ashamed for this money. Liberal model free from corruption can solve many problems, of which the authorities of the republic are afraid to think today.

Pridnestrovie needs modern European model of state structure – it means that the republic needs at least two powerful competitive groups which will change each other at all branches of power. Moreover, Pridnestrovie needs independent judicial system and non-corrupt law-enforcement bodies.

These groups can be political parties which will form governments and executive bodies one after another, on the basis of free and civilized elections.

One-party system is not effective. Overwhelming advantage of one party of the others – like in Russia – is not the best scenario, which smells too much “soviet”.

Russian political and administrative model will be reformed in the coming several years and it is good not to repeat others’ mistakes. Unlike Russia with its petroleum resources, Pridnestrovie has no right to make a mistake. The citizens of Pridnestrovie have no time for the experiments, speaking about flirt with bureaucracy. It is a costly affair, and none of the European countries can afford it. It is necessary to look at the countries that have the same initial situation as Pridnestrovie has. It means that sooner or later Pridnestrovie will have to learn and to use experience of the countries that do not have oil wells and gas pipes. The transit from obsolete model to a modern and actual should be evolutional in Pridnestrovie. At the same time this transit should happen as quickly as possible without propaganda and imitations.

Press and civil institutions

One of the most important mechanisms to estimate the civilized – non-civilized state and business guarantees is a freedom of press and independent television.

State media are extra-burden on the budget, moreover, state media play a destructive role. The USSR faced it when at one moment most of the population of the country lost state propagandists’ credibility. It is necessary to formalize state media ban in the Constitution. It is also necessary to formalize economic and political freedom constitutionally and to introduce criminal sanctions for aggression upon these liberties.

Independent media in the region is not a meaningless phrase for the prospective investor. Independent media is one of the mechanisms, which cover business, the same as international arbitration, for example. The image of “non-free country” is the same menace to foreign investments as corruption and unhealthy budget policy.

Different international ecological and human rights organizations monitor the situation at the territory of Russian Federation. Despite “cold war” and negative attitude towards Pridnestrovie, Pridenstrovie’s elites must be more attentive to the findings of the outside observers. As a rule, there exist criteria for international standards acceptance in different spheres – children and women rights, independent advocacy, transparent economy and transparent elections. Pridnestrovian state managers should seriously take into account both the conclusions made by international experts and the problem of its correspondence to the criteria. Today the situation is absolutely unhealthy – Pridnestrovie’s authorities reject all possible external estimates and they accuse “West” of the “cold war” against Pridnestrovie. However, citizens of Pridnestrovie, especially young people, leave the republic. Pridnestrovians are interested in absolutely particular things. Despite state propaganda they do not make long-going plans at home. Pridnestrovians consider state system of Pridnestrovie to be archaic and inadequate. It is impossible to listen to oneself for 20 years and then to complain that everybody left and that nobody is going to listen to stately speeches about successes.

Pridnestrovie on the European map

From the point of view of outside observer, Pridnestrovie has two images, thanks to its administration and state propaganda: “Soviet Pridnestrovie” and “Long-suffering Pridnestrovie”. So, the prospective investors look at Pridnestrovie with a smile or with pity and sympathy. When the authorities of Pridnestrovie say to foreigners something like “When at rome, do as romans do”, they look at least stupid. However, both of the versions of Pridnestrovie’s image are the main components of the ideology and these two images are constantly broadcasted through state media, television and officials.

The world has become smaller retrospectively. The countries, capitals and people have become closer to each other. Tens of millions of ex-“soviet” people visited different parts of the planet, they evaluated the advantages and disadvantages of these or those systems. The criteria of prosperity of this or that country has changed during the last 20 years since the collapse of Soviet Union. A prosperous country does not respect communism and its attributes, including Lenin and other things like that. One of the most important things for a good image is demonstration of the successes and developments in any possible sphere, including industry and military sector. The second thing about good image is putting all the mournful dates on the back burner. Only the success and opportunities for success bring up generations in the modern world.

That’s why Pridnestrovie in the eye of both foreigners and its own population looks like a monument to the epoch of communism and like a cemetery, where funerals happen much more often than holidays.

Russia, like many other countries in the world, took part in many wars and many people died during those wars. However, only in Pridnestrovie people watch on TV and on the web-sites of state media how the prevailing authorities, the adepts of “military and bureaucratic” state model demonstrate their patriotic feelings and make an address about how they keep up the traditions and “memory about ancestors”.

Against a backdrop of demographic collapse and gradual physiologic aging of Pridnestrovian elite, both “Soviet Pridnestrovie” and “Long-suffering Pridnestrovie” aggregate in the eye of the young people and prospective investors – they all feel like in hospice, a hospital for death-struck. Pridnestrovie looks like a place where it is possible to stay for some time for moral purposes, but this is one of the worst places in Europe and in the world to invest or to build future, with the exception of the most unstable African territories like Somali.

Nobody dreams to live in the country where everybody is always mourning. Hundreds of thousands of Russian citizens buy apartments and houses in Bulgaria to go there in summer. Bulgaria – open and happy – is more attractive for Russians than Pridnestrovie – menacing and long-suffering “outpost” with many monuments to Lenin. Russians buy apartments in Bulgaria and drive there through Belarus, Ukraine, and (Crazy!) through Romania.

And no nationalists follow them there. Antonescu is burning in Hell. Common people do not care about geopolitical games and megacorporations’ plans. Europe has lived without hatred for a long time already and not many people are interested in geopolitics, enough of propaganda.

Nobody is dreaming about recognition of Pridnestrovie, it is not the main thing in people’s lives, it is not a great necessity. Pridnestrovie can exist without legal status for many years, but neither local people nor tourists or potential investors care about the status – nothing depends on it. People care about their emotions, their lives and careers. People need the feeling of freedom, security from the officials, they need hope.

Nobody believes that the Hell begins behind the Dniester and continues through the whole planet – up to the Pacific Coast of Russian Federation. Nobody believes that outside Pridnestrovie everybody waits for Pridnestrovians to scoff at them, to remove their organs, to sell them into slavery and to oppress them.

The internet is full of the photos of the ex-citizens of Pridnestrovie and of Russians who travel by car along Europe. So, when listening to the speeches of Pridnestrovian leaders, one can think that these people really believe in the world they invented. They think that somebody from Russia estimates their striving to “preserve USSR”, “to preserve soviet production” and so on. All fine and dandy, but these abstract thinking doesn’t help Pridnestrovie’s economy. But all the massive monuments to the epoch of socialism are around us everywhere. Against it the zest of Pridnestrovie is lost - it is a unique socio-cultural environment, good nature, nice location – everything is close – Ukraine, Russia, Europe, Turkey with its Oriental flavor.

Instead of all these things, they try to make an illusion that we are in “the USSR, surrounded by the enemy”. Moreover, they try to make us believe that there is nothing worthy in the world except poor Soviet-era symbols, still, Pridnestrovian authorities say there is some “Great Russia” and we are its outpost, fortress. Only Russia doesn’t constitute itself “Great”, and wants to demonstrate the whole world its kind sweet glance, its modernity and adequacy. The same with “Great Japan”, “Great Germany”, “Great Romania” – they do not exist today, because people have changed. People consider Europe to be their big home and they see the borders as a formality. Even the Turkish Cypriots, who live in the better economic and climate conditions than Pridnestrovie, want the borders to disappear.

Northern Cyprus is the same as Russia and the Ukraine – the supporter of the Eurointegration and visa-free regime, of the flow of capital between countries, but it managers to save its identity. Young people do not leave Northern Cyprus. Turkey is a powerful regional player, interested in Northern Cyprus’s Eurointegration, because Turkey understands that it will be good for the people of Northern Cyprus. According to international experts’ estimates, Northern Cyprus today is a more free country than Turkey. It is one of the locals’ bragging rights, a reason to stay and live in their country. It could not have been otherwise - in the contrary case, after being unrecognized for 30 years, the people of the Northern Cyprus would have left for Turkey and other more prosperous countries.

The will to correspond all modern standards in economy and politics together with the course for eurointegration do not prevent Northern Cyprus from defending its identity. Northern Cypriots aim for independence from the Greek part of the island. Northern Cyprus, like Pridnestrovie, has problems with security and private property, but these things are not the obstacles for the regional development. Many international structures work with the problem of Cyprus. There is a certain plan proposed by UNO and sooner or later the parties will find a fair settlement of the problem. The European Union supports Greek part of the island in the conflict. However, Northern Cypriots - Turks, managed to separate these spheres, and European Union is not their enemy.

Northern Cyprus saw many transparent elections and it was not an obstacle in their strive to preserve their identity and to hold negotiations from a position of their interests. Democracy and economic freedom haven’t annihilated Northern Cyprus, but strengthened it. Pridnestrovian negotiators will have poor arguments - the peeled and wasted remnants of 750 thousand population and the results of the referendum of 2006. Let’s say, today’s demographic dynamics helps Moldova to look more adequate. If the economic reforms of the liberal government of Moldova are a success, it will be difficult for Pridnestrovian diplomats to advocate one’s interests in 5 years. Whose interests? The interests of the militarymen and bureaucracy? What if the population of Pridnestrovie will sank for several tens of thousands?

Let’s go back, however, to the European integration.

Modern Pridnestrovie of future can become the only Russian enclave in Europe. Russians, who do not feel good in the Baltic countries, may want to move to Pridnestrovie. It may happen that people from cold Siberia would like to move to future prosperous Pridnestrovie, to live close to the seaside…

What does Pridnestrovie’s administration consider to be good for people? It is a difficult question. It is difficult to say whether they have such questions or they live for the day?..

This is how we look like in the eye of Russia – poor, long-suffering threatened relative. Where will the investments come from? Who would call Israel “a long-suffering country”? Is Karabakh positioning itself like a “long-suffering” country? Both Karabakh and Israel regularly conduct warfare. It is time for Pridnestrovie’s authorities to stop taking the year of 1992 in vain in every speech, in every interview. It doesn’t help feel better those people, who haven’t left yet, who are waiting for the changes in the economy, for better salaries, pensions, medicine. This “long-suffering” image erases positive expectations. There is nothing worse for Pridnestrovie than preservation of the “military and bureaucratic” model, which has already forced most of Pridnestrovie’s population out of the country.

If Pridnestrovie is not going to become open and good for its citizens and for the whole world, who will remember about it in 20 years? Who will take care of all the monuments if everybody leaves?

Identity crisis

When you meet a stranger in Russia or in Europe and when you say you are from Pridnestrovie, Europeans and Russians react differently. Everybody heard or read something about Pridnestrovie. As a rule, Russians try to express sympathy, sorrow. They usually ask something like “Is the war over?”. Pridnestrovie is seldom mentioned in the Russian Media. Usually, it is either the war of 1991-1992 which is mentioned or the interviews of Pridnestrovian officials. They are making the image of Pridnestrovie abroad. This image doesn’t inspire many people to come to Pridnestrovie, although any little thing – like a glass of beer or a bottle of brandy or cognac help make some profit for the local businessmen, help form the budget.

The Europeans picture another image to themselves: “Pridnestrovie is a piece of the USSR, KGB and Lenin”. Of course, Europeans have no sympathy to such places. Europe saw many murderous wars during the last 20 years, and question is not about the victims. Several Pridnestrovians, who live in Europe, look much better than hundreds of thousands of refugees from the former Yugoslavia.

The identity is not only self-sentiment. It is also how Pridnestrovie is represented by the authorities and by the local media. The outside observer would get positive emotions neither listening to Pridnestrovian officials nor watching local media.

If there can be a happy-end, Pridnestrovie will become a Russian-speaking enclave with a specific ethnic and cultural environment, where tens of nationalities are mixed. It will also be an Orthodox region until people of another religion would want to come here. There is a special historical aura because of Bendery fortress and military memorial with the tombs of Russian soldiers of the Empire, the monument to Suvorov and memories about people, who made Pridnestrovie famous – they are the chemist Zelinskii and the artist Larionov.

When the leaders of Pridnestrovie speak about the aspects of “Russia’s presence” in the region, about “Russian influence”, they do not really understand how Russia interprets this terminology. Moscow of the 21st century is not likely to “threaten” somebody from Pridnestrovie. Nowaday Russia is much more interested in the European market of petroleum consumers. South Stream and Nord Stream play a more principled role than the “outposts”. In the end, USA and Russia may test the ABM system in Romania together. Some time ago, the authorities of Pridnestrovie were constantly frightening with this system everybody except perhaps children.

Russia must be really worried about Pridnestrovian administration’s inability to pay normal pensions. The collapse of the healthcare system, the absence of care about the veterans, 79% budget deficit. One day Russia may be tired of watching this “besieged island” which instead of becoming the “the island of Freedom”, became the museum of sovietdom insanity. Is this the thing Russia needs? Does it resemble nowaday Russia? Pridnestrovie is absolutely not the same.

Strengthening the positions of Russian language in Europe, expanding Pridnestorivan ethno-cultural environment is the purpose of our interest. To make Pridnestrovie attractive for any Russian living in Europe will bring much benefit and sense. Russia, looking at such Pridnestrovie, would be happy for the local citizens.

Nothing prevents Pridnestrovie from being modern, open and attractive for business today. Regional conflicts will be solved sooner or later. It is time to think now, what economic and demographic potential Pridnestrovie will have when meeting the tomorrow.

Conclusion

After 20 years of independence Pridnestrovie has very little chances to become a prosperous modern country. Post-soviet “industrial potential” can’t save the republic. Still, Pridnestrovie has a chance despite imperfect administrative model, corruption and other well-known abusive practice. There are just several things to do:

1. Pridnestrovie needs profound constitutional reform with the support of experienced experts – representatives of more prosperous countries similar to Pridnestrovie by their economic potential, human resources and other parameters.

2. A serious administrative reform is needed. Regular change of elites by political instruments should become a norm. Bureaucracy must be axed and the budget must correspond to day-to-day realities and expert estimation.

3. Political system balancing needs radical and populist parties to disappear. Communist organizations and the use of communist symbols for political purposes must be prohibited. The monuments to Lenin and other attributes of the communist past (emblems, etc.) must be removed. Russian imperial style in the architecture should be reborn and supported.

4. It is necessary to form non-corrupt and independent judicial system, the institution of independent advocacy and a system for the execution of sentences and to invite specialists who had the experience on the similar posts in the European countries.

5. It is necessary for Pridnestrovie to enter international arbitration and ECHR through Russian-Ukrainian “window” or directly.

6. It is necessary to claim for constitutional declaration of title to land and to create a mechanism of guarantees for the investors.

7. State media must be prohibited by the Constitution. The financing of the image publications from the budget or private sources in the private media must be prohibited. It is necessary to demonopolize Media market and to give the corresponding ministry the only function – allocation of radio frequencies and of other communications media.

8. Deradicalization, demilitarization and desovietization of the information flow coming from Pridnestrovie’s official structure must be conducted. Media must not be full of militarist rhetoric, which makes Pridnestrovie’s image of “besieged fortress”, “frontier post”, “empire outpost”, “piece of the USSR”, etc.

9. Open, free economic model transfer must be conducted. Tax reform is needed. Document flow must correspond to European rules and top-ranked specialists from the EU must be invited.

10. Military reform must be performed. All the relevant ministries and military structures (Cossacks, etc.) must be united into one power department. Active military service must be revoked. The united power department must be based on the contract system of completing.

All the above-listed and many other things, which are necessary for the citizens of Pridnestrovie, will give Pridnestrovie a chance to strengthen hand in dealings, to be rehabilitated in guarantor states esteem, and will improve the economic situation in the republic.

Pridnestrovie has no other chances to solve all the problems but thoroughgoing reforms. Without liberal reforms and European standards in economy and politics, Pridnestrovie has neither full present nor prospective future.

About author: Roman Konoplev is Pridnestrovian and Russian publicist and political analyst. Konoplev has lived in Pridnestrovie since 1978. He graduated from International Institute of Economics and Right (Moscow ) and Bryansk State Technical University. Roman Konoplev took part in the activities of opposition movements in Russian Federation. Roman Konoplev is the author of more than 200 journalist articles and op-ed pieces. Konoplev is the expert of several analytical centers.

Original publication: Pridnestrovie’s future: Liberal economy, Freedom and security. Roman Konoplev . Translated by Dina Konopleva.

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Gipsy Bessarabia as an alternative

2009-12-24T18:52:00.008+02:00

By: Roman Konoplev, chief of Analytical bureau “Consulting Mobile”.

Strategy of Defeat

The results of Parliamentary elections, presidential elections failure in Moldova predetermined partly the future of this region and drew a line under the past. The eurointegration course anounced by all the political powers on the eve of elections is today externalized in reality. Lupu’s failure brought presidential trophy on loan to one of the leaders of neo-Romanian radicals.

The underlying consequences of the 2009 for Moldova will become clear later. Today, only some shapes of change can be seen - the communists forced to the background of political stage and the leaders of AEI – Vlad Filat and Mikhai Ghimpu - who come forward. They are the most “open” politicians – ex-“Moscow hand” Serafim Urekian disappears against them, and so does Marian Lupu, who appeared to be far from being a “wolf” (“lupu” means “wolf” in Latin).

Marian Lupu played a role of “a gift horse”, a compromise hobby, Moscow fell for once again, hoping to retain its influence in the region. Yet another stake didn’t prove true: Lupu was nobody and stays nobody – without weighty levers, nibbled by the communists for his “betrayal” and treated with arrogance by his new friends in the Alliance.

Even if Lupu gets president post as the result of some reforms – he won’t have any influence at the local stage. In theory, Lupu’s person – “a widget” – was prepared for one purpose: to blandish Moscow, to preserve Kremlin’s goodwill at the time when Moldova especially needs means, so as when the main processes begin and when disagreements with Russia become unconscionably crucial to obtain maximum stability. In the meantime – it is necessary to deflect Russia’s attention from deep processes carrying Moldova to its Eastern European future. It is easy to deflect it through those who allowed themselves to be seduced by Lupu.

In the Lupu’s case Romanians fooled Moscow badly – as long as ballyhoo over Lupu continues, Moldova has not the political and economic front from ex-“elder brother” but slobber and heart talks deluge about various touching topics like “history frauds”, “common religion” and so on. Today, communists and Lupu compete for “the-most-pro-Moscow” title. Meanwhile, Moldova, thanks to controls used by National-Liberals, moves right-about from Moscow.

The actual situation is sometimes demonstrated by blurt-outs made by Mikhai Ghimpu – deputy president of Moldova, by the interviews of the key Bessarabian politicians for Romanian Media, as well as implementation of the idea of “Eastern European” course which differs from “European” course by more furious attitude to Russia and continuous state of exploration of conflict points. According to Ghimpu, CIS is a creaker, and Moldova will stay in this organization as long as it is at its profit. Such an eely Russia’s ally!

Moldova is active in moving towards anti-Russian Eastern European block, because its internal inferiority complexes and peeves have much to do with such Russia’s “partners” as Poland, Georgia and The Baltic States.

For some strange reason Moscow grins and bears it, looks the other way and confines itself to standard lines concerning Russian language and history frauds.

Moldova cleared the air touching both the language and history long ago. The finishing stroke is put off till Russia supports Moldova with another financial help, liberates customs rules for the citizens of Moldova and opens four more terminals for import of Moldovan wine claytons to the territory of Russian Federation. In this situation Russia as usually appears as simpleton walked over once again. Who is to blame? Diplomats’ mistakes and laziness, Foreign Intelligence Service’s passivism, unwillingness of Russian structures to scan the sociology in the neighbour countries – one can discuss these things endlessly.

Common people do not know how to buy drugs. Drug addict – schmecker – will always find a dose with his eyes closed in any part of the planet. On the same principle, people of one and the same type enter easily the orbit of Russian structures in any country – they are cheats who want to take some money “to cinch pro-Russian vector” and propose to provide loyalty of these or that politicians and political groups in the country through shady commercial operations. As the result, the civil society is seized by absolutely different forces. Clearly, smashup comes afterwards, which is described by a harsh term in diplomatic practice – “soiled themselves”.

As the result, “Russian idea” cheats fork out with a not-bad financial bonus away from the “shorn lamb”, and erstwhile “authoritative” and entirely “pro-Russian” political forces end up in the bin.

However, Moldova manages to finagle Russia happily not only in large-scale-geopolitical respect but even in applicable sense. It is well enough to turn attention to the procedures and normative legal documents that regulate the legal conditions of Moldova citizens’ staying in Russia and the other way round – Russians staying in Moldova.

According to the intergovernmental agreement signed by both sides, Moldova has set the requirements for Russian citizens: maximum period of staying in RM – 90 days during half a year. If a Russia’s citizen enters country at the Pridnestrovian part of the border he must get a registration during 72 hours in the Moldovan Police. Those citizens of RF who enter Moldova via North or the airport don’t need registration, but these are some men in a thousand. The majority of Russians come through the Pridnestrovian border. To get Moldovan registration they need to overpass about 50 km. Of course, nobody goes to Moldova to register – so these Russians who stay in Pridnestrovie violate Moldova’s law.

For the last couple of years Chisinau authorities try to plant their idea in the minds of European Police Mission EUBAM which controlls Pridnestrovian border at the territory of the Ukraine. The idea is not to let non-citizens of Moldova pass Pridnestrovian-Ukrainian border without registration documents or without Moldovan residence permit. “Law breakers” will have to be sent to Moldova’s structures for deportations and various amercements instead.

These are the methods Moldovan authorities try to solve “Pridnestrovian problem” with. At the moment EUBAM doesn’t enterfere in the cases with civil documents, but nobody knows, what Pridnestrovie’s citizens should wait for in the future.

The Central Office of EUBAM Mission is located in Chisinau. This fact speakes volumes. Major General Dr. Ferenc Banfi leads the mission. Catching smugglers with cigarettes and chicken legs is a worthy work, of course. Surely, it is not the main thing for which EUBAM creates a circle around Pridnestrovie. Chicken legs and cigarettes are not the problems of the level of Police Structure beyond EU borders which costs much money. EUBAM is creating a trap for Russian peacekeeping mission – so as, if a new conflict begins, 600 Russian gunners and defenseless citizens of Pridnestrovie won’t even think of any help from outside. Moreover, in case of Moldova’s one-sided rapture of agreements of 1992 about peacekeeping forces, Russian soldiers staying between Moldova and Pridnestrovie can be declared unlawful. Peacekeeping contingent rotation becomes impossible and Russian millitarymen become foreigners staying illegally at the territory of Moldova. In this case the theme of document flow that has been lobbied by Moldova for many years will come into EUBAM’s play.

The peacekeeping operation out of the mouths of new Moldovan leaders is again declared to be “occupation” in defiance of agreements achieved by Vladimir Voronin and Igor Smirnov. Juridically, Moldova doesn’t take part in the peacekeeping operation and all the actions of Moldova’s officials in this direction during the last couple of months are the preparations to absolute Moldova’s breakout from the peacekeeping operation. Moldova is deliberately destructing the peacekeeping operation and this is much more serious than the problems of “history frauds”. There is a smell of a new round of the millitary conflict. Let’s return, however, to the migration problem.

The Moldovan authorities’ requirements to Russians about staying in the country for only 90 days out of half a year, which are mooched from the EU legislation, do not correspond to Russia’s practice – there isn’t such a restriction for the citizens of Moldova in Russia. These norm – “90 days out of 6 months” – is directed against Russians and Ukrainians. If anyone doesn’t understand – this is nothing else but “elimination” of Pridnestrovie. “240 000 of illegal immigrants – that is your Pridnestrovian Republic”, - this is the official position of Moldova’s authorities.

Russia looks on citizens of Moldova as “compatriots”, Moldova sees citizens of Russian Federation as unbidden guests. They are sure in Moldova that they have a right to interpret the intergovernmental agreement this way – “We give 90 days out of 6 months for Russians, and Russians can do what they want – they need gastarbeiters”.

In fact, the citizens of Moldova in Russia are guest workers. They have a legal right to live and work all year round. They just need to go to the Ukrainian border once in three months and return with a new migration card – and no problem. As for the Russian citizens – they can stay in Moldova as it’s been described above – 3 months out of 6. This is the key norm which makes 150 000 Russian citizens, who are domiciled in Pridnestrovie, “law breakers”, subject to arrest and deportation in case Moldova’s special services control passports. It will be enough if EUBAM “shows understanding” to Moldova’s position, and makes Ukrainian customs officers “catch the separatists” who don’t have Moldovan residence permit.

It is obvious that after the events of 1992, not all Pridnestrovians will take into their heads to go on hands and knees to the Moldavian police department with a request to get a document of non-citizen. The more especially as this humiliating procedure presupposes many peculiarities connected with analyses, health certificates and with endorsing by the officer of Moldovan special services. The residence permit, as you know, vests “rights” in Pridnestrovian citizen with the exception of civil and political ones. Moldovans sit at the EU’s feet – any disloyalty can become a cause for deportation. The population is competently classified by “citizens” and “guests” – not a bad method to solve the conflict, is it?

The only argument why the Ukraine has not allowed EUBAM “hunting separatists” immediately is the fact that about 80-100 thousands Ukrainian citizens live in Pridnestrovie. Of course, Moldova considers them to be criminals just like Russian citizens in Pridnestrovie.

The EUBAM mission is creating a ring around Pridnestrovians. As soon as they finally lean on the Ukrainian authorities the ring will be locked. Pridnestrovie’s business experienced something like that not long ago – they made Pridnestrovian businessmen register in Moldova. They might try to register Pridnestrovie’s citizens in the same way – through the residence permit. Of course, Moldova never stops to remind democratically that “they will forgive everybody except activists-separatists and MGB (In Pridnestrovie - Ministry of State Security)”.

Today Moldova is active in lobbying the recall of the registration for Moldovans in Russia. Moldavian Media announce that in a little while the prime ministers of two countries – Filat and Putin – will sign the corresponding agreement. Moldova is putting its best foot forward, but they are not going to recall the same measure in relation to Russians-Pridnestrovians. The juridical necessity of this registration for most of the Russian citizens in Moldova is obligatory, because most of them live in the conflict zone – in Pridnestrovie and the requirement about the registration concerns these very people. I’d notice that this elective measure to “crush separatism down” touches about 140-150 thousand people. Several dozens of thousands of them live at the territory of Pridnestrovie without residence registration. They are Pridnestrovians – citizens of Russian federation, who have their residence registration in Russia to get pension there – as a rule their relatives send this pension from Russia to Pridnestrovie. There are also those who need adequate documents to go to EU for any business or on a trip. People who have a slightest hint of Moldova or Pridnestrovie in their passport will never get a visa to EU. Such visas can be bought in Chisinau, of course, thanks to corrupt schemes and such a visa will cost about 5 thousand euros for a Moldovan citizen.

As the result, according to Moldovan legislation, at the juridical territory of Moldova – in the unrecognized Pridnestrovie – about 240 000 “illegal immigrants” live and they must be deported. Most of them - about 150 thousand people – are citizens of Russian Federation. The laws to make Russians and Ukrainians “illegal immigrants” were invented and enacted in Moldova starting with the year 1993, step by step. Russia and its structures has always let it pass without any remarks. Time was passing by, but nobody arrested people in practice because there was no need to “tickle Russia” as Moldova was throughout dependent on Russia. Those times passed. Everything that was “forbidden” yesterday is “possible” today, as we see.

The cases, when Russian citizens from Pridnestrovie were kicked out in the Chisinau airport without any reasons despite their tickets, have become very often recently. When Russian citizens from Pridnestrovie fly to Chisinau from Moscow, Moldovans set their seal to the foreign passport – the seal which is a warning that this person is breaking migration regime as he/she has residence registration in Pridnestrovie and doesn’t have a residence permit in Moldova. These incidents are followed by threats that next time these people will be deported from Moldova because they are “illegal immigrants”. The same sort of threats are addressed to Pridnestrovians who need to go to Chisinau for personal purposes. The policemen of Moldova have their illegal post between Pridnestrovie and Moldova 300 meters from Russian peacekeepers where they check documents and threaten Pridnestrovians with the same warning of deportation.

Officially, Russia doesn’t have any causes to react at the international level. However, does Russia have any reasons to treat citizens of Moldova like “compatriots”, to ignore the problem “90 days out of 6 months” which conflicts Russian practice, to credit Moldovan economic with 500 million dollars, to open new terminals for Moldovan wine in Russia, to introduce registration remissions for the citizens of Moldova? Should Russia close eyes at the same situation for its 150 000 citizens living in the juridical borders of Moldova?.. Where is the good of this mysterious kindness and generosity in relation to the country that makes citizens of Russia, living in the conflict zone, criminals?

As a matter of fact, Russian official structures have an answer to this question – Russia is trying to resist in such a manner “history frauds” and reduction of use of the Russian language in Moldova. It looks at least comical. Russian structures look like a timid suppliant proffering a begging bow, kneeling to great and pitiless Moldova: “We beg you not to falsify history, not to offend Russian-speaking community – and we will pay full well, we’ll buy off – we’ll give you gold, priceless sables, polar foxes...” Holy mackerel!

Project “Bessarabia – Gipsy land”

One can see the results of Russia’s persuasion to Moldova when deplaning in Chisinau.

The first thing that hits the eye near the Chisinau airport is a huge billboard with Moldova’s, EU’s flags and a superscription “9 MAI” on it. It is December today. But, Moldavian authorities tip all the people coming to Chisinau that on 9 May 2010 Moldova is going to celebrate “The Day of Europe”. On 25 of December 2009 Moldova will officially celebrate Christmas. The Orthodox christians rebel against it, but noone hears them. As the phraze goes, “eurointegration is on the move”.

Speaking about history textbooks which declare that locals are the descendants of Dacia-Romans and other anecdotic points, all of this has been made during decades and the given direction is obvious. Moldova is severing relations with Russia firmly and determinely, setting forth funny “very pro-Russian” clowns, because at the moment Moldova still needs something from Russia.

Well, Russians can’t “head a trick”. Moldova is a sovereign state. As its prime-ministers and other officials declared, Moldova has a right to decide – to be in NATO and in other structures or wait for some time.

At the moment Russia is not against “to be milked” for some time in exchange for funny slogans in Russian that drown in the sea of antithetic declarations in Romanian. Russian Federation has really modest targets – nonadmission of history frauds and observance of human rights of Russian-speaking people as a cover to unite Moldova. However, neither the first thing nor the second can be realized taking into account current approaches. It is possible to “feed” leaders of the Russian communities in Moldova. Some of them sometimes appear to be Moldovan special services’ officers or swindlers-politologists who “work” both with Russia and others who are not less generous. However, these things can’t decide anything in a long-term perspective. Russia is being pressed out from Moldova like toothpaste from a tube – gradually and with persistence, defiantly and mockingly.

What can Russia set forward in return?

Really, Romanians have their own view of history, which many people don’t like. During Great Patriotic War they occupied Odessa and later they “liberated” the city from themselves. Romania was tacking between Germany and anti-Hitler coalition, but Romanian soldiers’ “acts of bravery” are well-known – ethnic cleansing of Slavs, Jews and Gipsies. There are a lot of documents to confirm these facts. Romania didn’t take much responsibility for its participation in war against Soviet Union, discounting the return of Bessarabia under Moscow’s control. However, if Bessarabia is not coming to Moscow, then why in the world this disputable and circulating territory should come into Romania’s hands? Why shouldn’t it come to another nation that became a victim of genocide during World War II? The nation, whose rights are today infringed in all the European states, and even in the very Romania?

Who is meant here are Gipsies (the Romany).Distressful history of this people gives it right for its own Motherland, the center of attraction. Bessarabia can become such a place.

Along the history of Bessarabia, during its transit from Russian authorities to the Romanian ones, the Romany have never been taken into account. They have always been alien to the empires, the empires’ special services and all the possible “sociologists”. Romanians have always annihilated Gipsies. Gipsies communities that can be found today in Bessarabia fall under discrimination. It is no mere chance that after World War II when Bessarabia came under Soviet’s control several tens of thousands or even hundreds thousands Gipsies left this territory. They left for Russia from the land were they had lived for centures and were they had been killed and persecuted.

They were settling on Bryansk lands and other places in Russia where they could find goodwill of local authorities. Judging from the fact that they didn’t return to Bessarabia, they find it easier to live on a new place than in the land where their ancestry lived. In Russia, many of the representatives of this people became integrated into the environment. However, many of the Romany still live in misery, have to break laws and only few of them have what they dreamt about leaving Bessarabia.

Hitlerits and their helpers were annihilating the Romany in Europe. Gipsies fought bravely against the nazi. They were not only in the Soviet army. They defended Serbia, they were in guerrilla forces. Gipsies fought together with their orthodox Serbian brothers during tragic events at the territory of Yugoslavia not long ago. They really deserve their own state, they suffered no less than the Jews did. They want to have their own center of attraction no less than other peoples. Bessarabia can become this center – future Gipsy state, the land of the Romany.

Romanians will probably be against it, something like Gipsies do not have their own history... The history, however, can be written. The very Romania was created by France in XIX century in order to stop Russian influence coming to the Balcans. Romanians invented a fairy tale that their nation is the descendant of “Dacia-Romans”, although thereof have never existed before.

There are many countries in the world with fictional history. The Romany don’t have to invent anything – too many of them died at the hand of Hitlerits and Hitlerits’ allies and Romania was among those allies. The Romany have right for their own country. Europeans might want to go at the expense of project “Bessarabia – Gipsy land”. Many gipsies flew from persecution in Romania to North Europe and wander about European countries without having any rights ot hopes for the future. It is a serious problem for the Europeans.

The Romany are discriminated in all the countries of Eastern Europe. All of them might support the idea of their own state with a dominating Gipsy ethnos. Many of the Gipsy families who live in Russia might want to return to their own country, to have rights there, to have homes there, because many of them live in misery.

Russia could appear as one of the initiators of this project of newest state as it supported the idea of Israel at the necessary time. It is better to be a donor for friends rather than Greek to someone. Russia’s interest is rather simple – the Romany remember what is nazism very well and they, like Israel, will never have “legionary parades”, “SS marches”, textbooks about “Russian occupation” and so on. The Romany remember their history very well and they know who took care about them. They don’t hate Russia, they are Orthodox and they cherish sacred traditions. The project “Bessarabia – Gipsy land” will make history frauds impossible and it will guarantee the legitimacy to Pridnestrovie.

Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic will become the center of attraction for Moldovans – today it is the only country, although a not recognized one, where the existence of such a nation as “Moldovans” is recognized. Most of the Moldavians – about a million of people – moved to Russia. They are unlikely to return to the Romanian province – Moldova. They have job in Russia, their children go to school in Russia. If they would like to live in their culture, they will have a chance to move to Pridnestrovie and they will be sure that they will have here their Cyrillic alphabet, pelenitsa (Moldavian music), and their Orthodox brothers – Russians and the Ukrainians – will be their neighbours. Multinational Pridnestrovie will get international recognition and will have an opportunity to defend originality of every ethnos, living on the left bank of the Dniester.

I don’t think that Russians and the Ukrainians who live in Bessarabia today will have any problems. The experience of the Slavs and Gipsies living together at Balcans speaks about great potential and opportunities of such a state.

Beginning with the times of Tsarist Russia, Chisinau had never been the city where mostly Romans lived – it was a Jew place. It can be so in the future and town Soroki where mostly gipsies live will become the capital of Bessarabia. Romanians who live in Bessarabia today have their “center of attraction” – it is Bucharest. About 3 million Romanians left their country after Romania became member of the EU. So, Romania will need its Bessarabian brothers-Romanians. At the same time, many of the gipsies living in Romania will be happy to move to their own state – Bessarabia.

Russia should be ready for unexpected decesions and ambitious projects. Such an initiative is worthy of a great country, because only great countries are allowed to settle among themselves plans to create new countries. Decision-makers of the Old Europe might be thinking for some time, but sooner or later they will talk to their citizens and they will understand that this idea is profitable.

As the result, everybody will benefit – Russia, EU, Romania, Pridnestrovie and the Romany. Long-standing regional problem – Moldova – will vanish into thin air.

Original publication: Призрак Молдовы. Как Россия носит воду в решете. "Агентство политических новостей". Роман Коноплев . Translated by Dina Konopleva.

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Who will recognize Pridnestrovie? – 3

2009-10-25T17:38:00.005+02:00

By: Roman Konoplev, chief of Analytical bureau “Consulting Mobile”.

The article is the result of trip to Venezuela 17.09-1.10.2009

Route to international recognition

To understand partially the reason of Abkhazia’s sucess on its way to international recognition, it is enough to visit the web-site of the country’s diplomatic department. There you can find a list of country’s representatives abroad. Abkhazia has representative offices in Europe (Bulgaria, Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Italy and one representative for the countries of Western Europe), in Russian Federation (Adygeya, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachaevo-Cherkessiya, Bashkortostan, Krasnodar region, Rostov, Tatarstan, embassy in Moscow) as well as in Syria, Turkey, Venezuela and Pridnestrovie.

Abkhazia signed Friendship and Cooperation Agreements with several Russian regions, as well as with Gagauzia and Pridnestrovie.

Having opened web-site of the corresponding Pridnestrovian department one can find an empty column. I know that Pridnestrovie has diplomatic representative in Venezuela and Abkhazia, so this is the result. The result is zero. Not a single objective article about Pridnestrovie will appear in foreign Media until there is a professional stuff and corresponding expences.

There are no positive articles about Pridnestrovie in foreign press. There are no Pridnestrovian Media in foreign languages which can function not abroad, but in Tiraspol. Media should be at least presented in English, Spanish, German, French, Arabic and of course, Romanian.

They say one can listen to Radio PMR (Pridnestroviskaia Moldavskaia Respublica) even in other continents. But it works at medium-frequency band. Noone in the whole world listens to such a band and doesn’t buy corresponding receiving-sets. Does anybody need such a radio to which nobody will listen to?

Today, there isn’t even one precise name for the country in foreign languages – Transnistria, Trans-Dniester republic, Transdniestria, Pridnestrovie – such things have to be finally legislated. It will be much simpliar if Pridnestrovian journalists, politicians and businessmen use the SAME word when talking to foreigners, but not four different names of the country depending on which would come to one’s head first.

The absence of information about Pridnestrovie in foreign languages in the Internet and newspapers leads to different incidents. For example, during my regular trips abroad for personal and businesslike matters none of the term mentioned above says anything to foreigners who are far from diplomacy and Media. As a rule it is necessary to explain like “Pridnestrovie is a separatist region of Moldova with mainly Russian-speaking population. We want independence”, so everybody can at least understand what part of the world it is. If you explain to a foreigner that “Pridnestrovie is a piece of land between the Ukraine and Moldova which requires becoming part of Russian Federation”, it will be just funny. People will invent jokes about Pridnestrovian citizens.

If there are no professionals to expand diplomatic and informtional activities abroad, it is necessary to invite specialists from consulting agencies who will solve problems and will realize Pridnestrovie’s targets.

Expat communities do much for unrecognized republics. Nagorno-Karabakh is supported by Armenian expat in many countries of the world. Four workers of Nagorno-Karabakh’s Washington office managed to get financion from the USA Congress. Representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh worked much to get donations from private individuals, first of all thanks to expats.

Turkish Republic of Northen Cyprus has 23 representative offices in foreign countries, including Washington and Permanent Headquarters of the United Nations in New-York.

Palestine has representative offices in 81 states. The result of their work is recognition by more than 100 countries of the world. Twenty states – members of the United Nations have their representatives in Palestine.

Somaliland which accepted the declaration of independence in 1991 has representatives in 5 countries. Somaliland works with a consulting company headed by the former United Nations diplomat because the country doesn’t have own specialists.

Taiwan has 118 representative offices abroad. 66 countries have their embassies in Taiwan.

Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic has 29 representative offices abroad and invites third parties for diplomatic work. The result – recognition by 81 states.

Abkhazia, Somaliland and Taiwan are not members of United Nations Organization, but are members of UNPO - Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation. Former members of UNPO who got independence are Armenia, Estonia, Latvia, Georgia, Palu. It is not difficult to send a request about membership to the UNPO secretariat in the Hague and to appoint a representative of Pridnestrovie. It is not expensive either. But it hasn’t been done.

Pridnestrovie is a multinational country. Armenian, Bulgarian, German, Jewish, Syrian communities who live in Pridnestrovie could have helped in the question of recognition of our republic through their expats in other countries. However, Pridnestrovian authorities ignore this kind of activities.

PMR authorities should pay their attention at inviting foreign missions to work in Pridnestrovie. Diplomatic non-recognition doesn’t mean Pridnestrovie can’t invite such missions. This activities do not imply any expenses for the budget.

Certainly, these are not all the measures that can bring international recognition to our republic. Surely, there must be changes inside Pridnestrovie, at least speaking about country’s appearance and national symbols.

European-style remodelling in the communist conservancy

We can’t give our politicians a chance to fly in the world of illusions thinking that psychology of the soldiers of “besieged fortress” and work “in the name of the future” make us “free” and “independent” and make the republuc a fully ligitimate member of the world community. We will never make either our young people or foreigners love the monuments to Lenin. Lenin for the Ukranian people means the memory about tens of thousands those deported to Siberia and Kazakhstan because of their political disloyalty to Soviet. In 1940 ethnic Romanians were sent to Siberia to work hard for 15 years. There were not only Romanians but Russian people who ran from Bolshevick terror. Efrosiniya Kersnovskaya (Eufrosinia Kersnovskaya (December 26, 1907 (January 8, 1908)) - memoirist, GULAG prisoner, bessarabian landowner who had been expelled from Bessarabia for settling and forced labor in Siberia in 1941 and then convicted for long-term corrective labor camps.

Author of 2200 pages memoirs, accompanied by 700 drawings of her childhood years in Odessa and Bessarabia, deportation and stay in the Gulag. Full text of Efrosinia Kersnovskaya’s memoirs in 6 volumes, was published only in 2001-2002).

Today, many people try to make a “small Europe” in their homes, at work in the office, in the car. Even local communists do not prefer to drive “Moskvich”. Powerful people of this world tint windows of their cars. They must be doing it because thay do not want to see the town with its USSR in the center of Tiraspol. But people who are responsible for the appearance of our capital must think that foreigners should melt when looking at Tiraspol. If our municipal and republican authorities start treating our capital as they treat their own houses and appartments then some day people would consider us equal. Unit of the former USSR is not interesting to anybody. Even North Korea deleted all the facts about building communism from their Constitution.

The appearance of Tiraspol as well as national symbols should follow world tendencies like almost everybody try to follow some style. We do not live in the zoo to be shown on TV as a part of USSR forgotten by everyone. If we want to be recognized at least by anyone it is necessary to liquidate this parody of the Soviet system. It is even hard for Russia to recognize communist reserve, not to mention other countries. The facts should correspond to visual design. We live in a capitalist country and there are no other variants. A civilized country is usually decorated by pieces of art but not by totalitarian statues and symbols of the Red Terror.

It is absolutely necessary to get rid of hammer and sickle in national symbols of Pridnestrovie which are the key attributes of the Soviets and the communist obscurantism. Some people think with nostalgia of soviet times even today, but nobody in Russia is going to rehabilitate the NKVD (People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs) executioners and re-impose the death penalty for the victims of Gulag rehabilitated a few years ago, and Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s works are included in the school curriculum. Nobody feels a pity about either communist executioners who annihilated Emperor Nicolay’s family or about those who made the best of the Russian nation and Russian intellectuals refugees. The flag and emblem of Russia today are pre-revolutionary flag and coat of arms. There have been dozens of documentaries on Russian TV that Ulyanov-Lenin was a common German special-service agent who was crying havoc in the country.

Monuments to Lenin should be taken out of the territory of Pridnestrovie as soon as possible and as far as possible. Of course, there are certain admirers of totalitarian “art”. It is always possible to open at the outskirts of Tiraspol a museum of communist period for them with all those round-headed monsters as well as with barbed wire, watchtowers camp, wax figures of the NKVD executioners and with portraits of those whose relatives perished in concentration camps, gas chambers and mental hospitals under the Soviets. “Communism fans” might rehabilitate after visiting such a museum for some years.

Today, weapon exhibits can’t be a monument to anything. Guns, tanks and aircraft stand at the squares neither in Moscow nor in any other capital of the world. Tank is not a piece of art. Partisans Square, for example, is the main Bryansk square (Bryansk is a city in Russia, located 379 km southwest from Moscow. It is the administrative center of Bryansk Oblast. Population: 431,526 (2002 Census).) where you can see a great monument which shows participants of II World War – soldiers and partisans. The monument shows those tragic events, people’s desire to liberation from the occupants better than the gun barrel. An Orthodox chapel would be quite in place where one could light a candle for the repose of the souls of our soldiers... The chapel won’t allow to conduct weekly meetings with loudspeakers near to graves of the fallen. The meetings which has long been out of place. A monument to a soldier with a child or other sculpture symbolizing peace would have decorated the center of Tiraspol and would correct the image of communist reserve which is “proud of its military power” with poverty which horrifies any European. Even if everything doesn’t look so bad from the inside, in the eyes of the world it looks that way and we should not be indifferent to such a view about us.

Pridnestrovian public figures who were born in USSR can’t lock themselves in their dreams that they will be able to recreate some camp society despite their merits and people’s respect. The society where everybody would march and praise their beloved leader despising the rest of the world for misuderstanding of this society’s exclusivity. Nothing of the kind can happen in Pridnestrovie either under communist, far Orthodox, imperial or any other souce. Any talk of the “ring of enemies” leads to exodus of people who are fully aware of the world they live in and who know how things work in other countries.

The problem of other countries’ attitude to Pridnestrovie can be solved, firstly, by the authorities’ attitude to their citizens, by political and economic climate in the country, secondly, by proper funding of the diplomatic, information and image structures. The professionalism of Pridnestrovian diplomats, businessmen, politicians and journalists who establish new republic’s ties with other members of the international community is not less important. If Pridnestrovie doesn’t want to terrify anybody with its appearance, and if the country wants to be seen as a civilized state it should look appropriately. In this case, we are just doomed to be recognized.

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Who will recognize Pridnestrovie? – 2

2009-10-25T17:25:00.009+02:00

By: Roman Konoplev, chief of Analytical bureau “Consulting Mobile”.

The article is the result of trip to Venezuela 17.09-1.10.2009

Why Abkhazia has been recognized by Venezuela, but not Pridnestrovie?

To size the effectiveness of any state’s activities on its way to independence, there is only one criterion – the result. However, it is not enough to repeatand repeat phrases about struggle, “besieged fortress” to get positive result. Of course, it is hard to say that Pridnestrovie is surrounded by friends. On the one side is Moldova, which authorities are ready to speak to us only about one thing – about our surrender. On the other side is the Ukraine which is not interested in unsettled conflict near to its border. There are the supporters of Pridnestrovie’s independence both at the territory of the Ukraine, Moldova and Russia, but these people are too far from decision-making levers. But it is necessary to understand one thing: diplomatic efforts and meetings between heads of Ministries of Forreign Affairs are not enough for Pridnestrovie to be heard in other countries in the world. The theme of Pridnestrovie’s problems, life of Pridnestrovie’s people has to be declared for all to hear. Politicians and civil servants in any civilized country always follow public mood. Being in confrontation, political groups seek to “harness” this or that question or problem about which newspapers write articles, TV channels speak and people think.

Speaking about Abkhazia which has been recognized by states of Latin America, by Venezuela in particular, it is necessary to admit that “Pridnestrovian” problem, unlike Abkhazian, is not known in Latin America. There are no parallels between Pridnestrovie and two Caucasian republics.

After talking with Russian journalists who live and work in Latin America, with representatives of Russian regions and companies and with Abkhazian diplomats and journalists, it is possible to make a number of abstracts:

1. People of Latin America has heard much about Abkhazia and South Osetia. There usually appear publications and expert opinions in press. The people of Venezuela knows about problems of these countries. Speaking about Pridnestrovie, Latin American Media doesn’t raise the question of our republic. Something is made in the news format but there is no public precise opinion, these isn’t any definite understanding of this question. Neither Chavez’s political powers nor opposition have any definite opinion about Pridnestrovie. If this or that problem doesn’t exist in Media and is not the question to discuss, not a single president of any country would dare recognize a new country. Official representative of diplomatic office of Pridnestrovie works in Venezuela, but this is the only direction where any work is being done. On the level of Media and on the level of civil contacts Pridnestrovie does nothing.
2. The question of Pridnestrovie’s recognition by Latin American countries and, first of all, by Venezuela, is a political one. Venezuela’s position is not directed to recognition of independence of new states, because there are regions and communities in Venezuela with “separatist consciousness”. Speaking about Bolivia, the situation there is even more complicated, becuse separatist regions of Bolivia are represented by almost the whole country. Very serious lobbying tools are necessary to change moods of the elites. The recognition of Abkhazia and South Osetia has become unexpected for Latin American politicians. There were talks about it, but almost no steps were made in this direction. However, it is not correct to say that the idea of recognition of Caucasian republics was exported by Moscow. Venezuela is quite capable to make such decisions independently. If Moscow had this influence, then Abkhazia and Osetia would have been recognized a year ago.

ITAR-TASS correspondent in Venezuela Mikhail Makeev told about the development of the situation with recognition of Abkhazia and about Pridnestrovie’s opportunities in Latin America:

Everything was happening very slow. There was no direct answer to Abkhazian people for a long time. They had to speak, to explain, to show. Abkhazia worked for its recognition on the level of governments, parliaments. MPs and politicians were invited. In my opinion, it was right and helpful. At the beginning of the year people knew that there is such a problem.

As for Pridnestrovie, it is important to start activities on the level of Media and business-community. One more idea – to offer Venezuela to train specialists in Pridnestrovie. It is a very important direction where Pridnestrovian people can offer their services to train, for example, doctors, engineers and other specialists. There is shortage of professionals in Venezuela. Exchange of experience in high technology industries is also possible as Pridnestrovie is an industrial region and it certainly has something to offer to potential Latin American partners. Question of electricity is really urgent in Venezuela. Here in Venezuela they have coal, gas, oil. It is possible that specialists from Pridnestrovie come to help built power stations. There are many directions of activities. In this case, Venezuela and other Latin American countries might show their intiative in the question of recognition.

Rashid Gabdullin, correspondent of Russian editions “Parliament newspaper” (“Parlamentskaya gazeta”), “Tribune” (“Tribuna”) in Latin American countries believes that a very important component of Venezuela’s economic development is international cooperation:

Venezuela of course has its peculiarities, in particular, any beginning faces bureaucracy and very often official can’t put the matter to rest without coordinating with authorities or headquarters, who always take into account public opinion. The main requirement when starting any projects in Venezuela is social component. Foreign companies, for example, have to build firs-aid-posts, schools, sport grounds, etc. near to factory/plant/enterprise they construct.

Of course, Venezuela will always monitor its key partner’s – Russia’s attitude to Pridnestrovie. If Pridnestrovie is recognized by Russia, in this case the process of recognition of Pridnestrovie by Latin American countries will advance. It is necessary that the relations between Tiraspol and Moscow move off dead center.

Pridnestrovie should first of all work with Medvedev and Putin. However, it is also necessary to open offices in other countries with Pridnestrovian representatives, diplomats, but the work should be done not only at the level of diplomatic relations but also at the level of Media, society and business. I know that Pridnestrovian office here, in Caracas is ready to open. It is situated in a very good place – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela, Parliament, Diplomatic Academy are near to the office. Booklets are printed, so every small step has a reasonable resonance. It is important that this work is not fragmentary but regular...

The official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia in Venezuela, Zaur Gvadzhava commented on the situation with recognition of his country:

We have been working here since the January of 2009 and I see that the official representative of Pridnestrovie Christian Laslov Furst works in the diplomatic direction, but it is not enough. Venezuelan Media never mention Pridnestrovie. In its turn, Abkhazia has sent an official leter with a request for recognition. The letter was presented in March. It has been examined for some time and eventually the positive decision was made. It was partly the Cucasian conflict position of the USA that played its role in the recognition of Abkhazia by Venezuela. The representatives of Venezuela visited Abkhazia in 2007 and diplomats were working hard for some years, but Media also helped a lot as well as civil structures. That is not the case when work is done by official representatives. Much depends on the opinion of the society. For the last couple of years there were many articles about Abkhazia and South Osetia published in Venezuela, but I’ve never seen a single publication about Pridnestrovie here. Venezuelan society is unfamiliar with this problem.

I would like to make only one small side note: there hasn’t been any letters with the request of recognition sent to President of Venezuela by Pridnestrovian official government instituations.

(To be continued..)

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Who will recognize Pridnestrovie?

2009-10-25T13:49:00.006+02:00

By: Roman Konoplev, chief of Analytical bureau “Consulting Mobile”.

The article is the result of trip to Venezuela 17.09-1.10.2009

Part I

Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Osetia on 26 August 2008. A few later, on 3 September 2008 Nicaragua did the same. Diplomatic relations between Russia and South Osetia and Abkhazia were officially declared in 2008, on the 9th of September.

Russia’s decision was supported by Venezuela and Cuba. “Georgea was the aggressor. Russia took a precise position. We would have behaved like Russia if anybody attacked us. Russia is right to have recognized independence of South Osetia and Abkhazia,” – Venezuelian leader Hugo Chavez declared that year.

Social and political movements of Venezuela organized the conference “South Osetia and modern geopolitics” where the participants of the conference declared their initiative to recognize two new independent states. The resolution of the forum said that Georgia president Mikhail Saakashvili must be arrested and he has to answer for the military crimes. The participants of the forum also supported the idea of recognition of the two republics by all the members of ALBA. ALBA block includes Bolivia, Honduras, Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, Ecvador and several Carribean states (Newsru.com).

Thus, on 10 September 2009 Venezuela recognized Abkhazia and South Osetia. New states can be soon recognized by Belorus, Syria, Livia, Jordan and Marocco. When looking at the list of these states, we speak about the countries, which are Russia’s partners, first of all, in the military sphere. Nevertheless, it would be a mistake to think that the recognition of two Caucasian republics by Latin American states is Russian diplomacy’s merit. Of course, Russia’s opinion plays a great role in such a case. However, can only Russia’s favourable attitude guarantee the recognition of new states by any other country in the world? What are Pridnestrovie’s prospects? Which Pridnestrovian elites declare their commitment to Russia? What can help recognize small states even if they are situated on the other part of the planet? Why were Abkhazia and South Osetia recognized and Pridnestrovie – not? What should Pridnestrovie do while struggling for independence? These and other issues appear when the world information agencies talk about new diplomatic achievments of the Caucasian republics.

Struggle for independence and simulation

For the last couple of years we got used to hear speeches of different Pridnestrovian politicians, who declare that “we struggle for recognition”, that this struggle “continues” for almost 20 years. “Struggle” is the term which can be perceived and understood in different ways. Some of the states, for example, in Latin America fought with Spanish government with the arms in their hands despite common language and common religion. Former British colonies used to be the stage for bloody clashes. Citizens of arabian settlements in the Middle East struggle for their recognitions with terrorist methods. One should note, in turn, that the struggle for recognition includes several aspects, which can bring the necessary result if an integrated approach exists.

Thus, the struggle for recognition has a number of very important components:

1. Millitary-police component, which ensures retention and, if necessary, expansion of the territory, which is under the effective jurisdiction of the new state.
2. Financial component, which includes creation of the institutions, such as Central Bank and many other, including monetary and fiscal policies. Guaranteeing the protection of property rights to foreign economic agents, which conduct their economic activities at the territory of unrecognized state.
3. Diplomatic component, including measures which help establish friendly relations with recognized countries.
4. Informational component, which gives the citizens of recognized states an opportunity to learn about the problems of the new state, to get information about the new unrecognized country in the their language in any part of the planet.
5. Political component which provides new contacts of the civil society with the common organizations abroad. Such activities prevent the enemy from positionning the authorities of the unrecognized state as junta which relies only on military and police structures and ignores public opinion.
6. Economic component which helps expand trade links of economic agents of unrecognized state.

Country which works following all these components has more chances for success even in case when the result of struggle will be not the recognition but autonomy status in confederative state.

If one ignores even one of these directions, time will pass and passivity can make failed state even out of any recognized country. The main parameter when speaking about successful and unsuccessful struggle for recognition is the result. As everybody knows, noone except partners in Commonwealth of Independent States-2 (Abkhazia and South Osetia) recognized Pridnestrovie.

Then, one should ask – was there any struggle? Does Pridnestrovie today have any planned strategy of struggle for independence and recognition? Looking at what politicians in Pridnestrovie claim one should think that struggle never stops. However, if you look at 6 components of real struggle for independence and recognition, if you compare the number and the quality of steps made by Pridnestrovie and compare it with activities in Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh, Palestine, Somaliland, Taiwan and Western Sahara then you will see that Pridnestrovie never began its “struggle for recognition”.

“Move yourselves...”

From time to time Pridnestrovian politicians declare that they are ready to become part of Russia any time. Unfortunately, there are no prospects under such claims. Normally people do not take seriously these speeches. After Pridnestrovian politicians speak about their readiness to become part of Russian Federation, we can find many politicians, experts and journalists in Russia who are against “new Kaliningrad” in their country.

Modern world has changed for the last couple of centuries. There is a great number of international documents under which Russia is hardly going to discuss question of transforming its borders. Such a step is harmful to Russia because this country can’t annex Pridnestrovie because Russia has an official position that Pridnestrovie is part of Moldova. Despite the fact that Russia has recently recognized Osetia and Abkhazial, nobody says that these new countries are going to become part of Russian Federation.

Russia has many of its citizens in many countries in the world and Russia doesn’t need to be deceived. Of course, it is not the position of “empire” but Russia doesn’t speak about any ideas of “russian imperialism”. Russia today is “country - corporation”. It is a common case today and such a model of state has its advantages and disadvantages. “Country - corporation” never thinks like “this is the land where our fathers grazed goats”. “Country - corporation” is much more interested in the projects of continental importance: “South stream” and “North stream” which can provide treasury and shareholders with hunreds billion dollars – it is much more important then a piece of land with friendly inhabitants. Russia won’t have any benefits from annexation of Pridnestrovie. But recognition is another question and speaking about this recognition Russia advises Pridnestrovie to “move themselves”.

(To be continued..)

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Roman Konoplev: "We certainly will be recognized."

2008-12-09T17:37:00.007+02:00

We certainly will be recognized. Pridnestrovian political expert Roman Konoplev in an interview for DespiteBorders

Michal Ondrejchik 06.12.2008
Pridnestrovian political expert and chief of PR-agency Consulting Mobile Roman Konoplev in an interview for DespiteBorders.com speaks of Pridnestrovie (further information www.pridnestrovie.net). DespiteBorders has already been interested in Pridnestrovie partially there.

What are attitudes of Pridnestrovian inhabitants (and local authorities) to legal status of Pridnestrovie and to possibilities of solution of this problem (meaning reunification with Moldova – confederation, federation, autonomous region; "reunification with Ukraine” or joining with Union of Russia and Belarus)? Is there any kind of exhaustion due to long-standing status quo?

Since Pridnestrovian Republic has already existed for 20 years, the citizens of Pridnestrovie have learnt many things. Nobody is ready to sacrifice freedom and democratic principles, which were won during the military conflict of 1991 – 1992, and to have an opportunity to somehow solve the situation nevertheless. Current objective difficulties are connected not with the status of PMR but with the actions and threats which come from Moldova's authorities. First of all, this problem touches economic agents. Moldova couldn't occupy the territory, but it achieved another aim – Pridnestrovie's customs documents were recognized illegal. Pridnestrovians suffer because of the economic war, and they do not understand why they have to sponsor corrupt authorities of the neighbor country, the citizens of which made Pridnestrovians suffer acutely and killed cruelly so many people.

Moldova has large scale of problems (economic, social problems, potential European integration – just to name a few). There have appeared (on the west bank of river Dniester) ideas to leave Pridnestrovie and to become interested in other more important problems. Has it ever met with any kind of response in Pridnestrovie?

Several public figures from Moldova spoke with similar initiatives. Still, there are no grounds to suppose that today's Chisinau elite will be ready to meet such radical changes. In my opinion, the time of civilized Moldovan elite has already come, so as soon as such elite will be formed, a new era of relations between Pridnestrovie and Moldova will begin.

I suppose, today we had better "split up”, following the example of Czech Republic and Slovakia. Peaceful divorce and workable competition in economics and social standards would be a good alternative to the current confrontation.

Unfortunately, Western media broadcast the positions of today's Moldovan authorities – this is almost propaganda and lies. However, today it is not enough for Europeans to hear absurd blames without facts. European citizens often come to Tiraspol. They can see themselves what is true and what lie and only grim fantasy about Pridnestrovie.

What do you think about recognition of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Kosovo? Do you consider dates of recognition of above mentioned entities as turning points for Pridnestrovie? The Russian president claims that Pridnestrovian problem must be resolved as soon as possible. What would Russia like to do? And on the other hand, what should Russia do?

The moment when Pridnestrovians decided to live separately from Moldova was a critical stage for Pridnestrovie. It was not several plotters' opinion. Tens of thousands of people came to Tiraspol squares and to the centers of other Pridnestrovian towns. It was a real people's revolution. Everybody was tired of living and of being afraid. I remember those times very well – fear of nationalists from the west bank of the river was displaced by confidence that Pridnestrovians could defend their dear and near ones, their families.

The situation was different in Moldova, in comparison with other countries of Eastern Europe – there the forces of reaction fought for power and those forces were more worth than soviet communism for Pridnestrovians. Conservative nationalistic force won in Moldova. The powers which made all the decisions at that time appear today only in small marginal parties in Europe and their actions are watched by the police. People with radical ideology came to power in Moldova and many people were killed in Chisinau because of their ethnic background.

So, it was a note of rebellion. Our wish to be Free became nation-wide. Our leader Igor Smirnov took a bear by the tooth. However, he and the people who decided to go with him, leading Pridnestrovian revolution, were supported by the people. They didn't rise under communist slogans, as they wrote in Europe, they defended Pridnestrovian identity from marginal Nazis who fell greedily upon high positions in Chisinau.

Speaking about your question about Russia's position, Russia today is a coherent liner of the conflict to be solved. Russia supports the opinion of the Pridnestrovian side that we should be heard during any negotiations and that Moldova should take into account the opinion of our people. Russia sees us as equal side in any negotiations that touch upon our destiny. This is an unbiased estimate and we know that this estimate has many followers in European Union. Russia demands that open respectful dialogue should begin. However, Moldovan authorities consider Russia's opinion to be insufficient. As far as my opinion is concerned, Russia should have initiated the discussion of this question within European organizations many years ago. Still, Russia's initiatives need not be enough must be not enough for starting such a discussion: there must be more voices. However, Europeans are too frightened by Moldovan propaganda, and we try to break this information blockade.

Do you think that any country will be willing to recognize Pridnestrovie?

Pridnestrovie needs to be recognized. Pridnestrovian enterprises used to have commercial relations with 75 countries before Moldova started economic blockade against us. We rely on Russia to recognize us in the future, but this fact won't be enough without recognition by the Ukraine and other countries, markets of which have demand for our products. In my personal opinion, Pridnestrovie has the goods in other new countries, thanks to serious economic potential and high level of education.

Romanian president Traian Basescu would like to reunify Romania with Moldova. Moldova is not very enthusiastic about this idea. Why? Would it be significant for PMR?

Today Moldovan elite is represented by people of the old formation, who understand much neither of modern world order nor of the West, nor of the advantages of democratic values. Corruption is a normal environment for them. That is why Moldovan elite prefers talks about eurointegration to real eurointegration. Many friends of mine and I (we are citizens of Pridnestrovie) hope that people with European education and European thinking will come to power in the neighbor country. We hope they will solve the problem of corruption and will stop taking revenge because of Moldova's military defeat in 1992. Moldova has its way to Europe – this way goes through Romania. Citizens of Moldova become naturalized in Romania and, in fact, integration is on the half of its way. If the elite start to resist, it can stop the process, but it will not last for a long time.

Is the destiny of Pridnestrovie "a big geopolitical game” among EU, Russia and USA?

Pridnestrovie is a small region which does not have any strategic meaning. However, there is geopolitics and there is international legislation, there is European experience of the existence of national enclaves. Prominent players can play their geopolitical chess, but the rights of Pridnestrovian citizens must be realized, taking into account laws and experience of solving similar conflicts. There are all the necessary backgrounds and conditions.

How do EU, Russia, and USA influence Pridnestrovie? Can we feel any other influences there?

I am sure that other countries should provide dialogue between the sides of the conflict, but not speak as a lawyer of this or that side. Such a position will be honest and fair in relation to people of the region. When anybody says that "Pridnestrovie does not exist”, this person does not have real information or they are involved in propaganda. There is no place for propagandistic slogans in the negotiations.

Pridnestrovie has been an independent state since 1991. Does it have any influence on the thinking of people?

In Pridnestrovie, school and university history lessons are not cut by the years of the republic's independence. Young generation knows enough about the history of Russian Federation and about the situation in our region beginning with the period of Russian-Turkish wars. Of course, history has influence on people – they know that the state which was an ancestral home of the today's Romania and Moldova, the state which was united and ruled by Shtefan (who is recognized by Romanian Church as Saint) did not include the territory of Pridnestrovie – the left bank of Dniester. Our land, except for several tens of years after World War II, has never been part of Moldova. Today, Pridnestrovians perceive themselves as citizens of the young country, which has its heroes, holidays, traditions, the country which is connected with Slavic world – Russia and the Ukraine.

Moldova claims that we cannot consider Pridnestrovians as nation – they consider them as society of three ethnic groups. However, Moldovans are "an artificial nation”. Is there any form of solidarity among these groups – meaning a solidarity so strong as to consider them a nation? Can we consider the referendum from September 2006 as a manifestation of above mentioned solidarity of ethnic groups of Pridnestrovie?

To understand the fact whether Pridnestrovian people exists as political nation, one should just come and see Tiraspol on the Day of Independence on September 2nd – see how citizens of the republic celebrate their holiday. It is also enough to pay attention to the fact how Pridnestrovian people confronted the aggression of Moldova – it was the choice of the absolute majority of the population of the region without any dependence on national identity.

We see what motivation Moldovan leaders have when they say this or that thing. These are not secrets. Any citizen of Pridnestrovie can answer the question why Moldova cannot make up its mind to our independence.

According to the OSCE survey, Moldovans who live in Pridnestrovie prefer to designate themselves as Pridnestrovians. Really? Why? Could you provide us any example?

This sort of self-identification is not connected with the war of 1991 – 1992 only. At the beginning of 1990s, native citizens of Bessarabia preferred to name themselves "Romanians” instead of "Moldovans”. That was the choice of intellectual and political Moldovan elite. The term "Moldovan” began to disappear together with the term "Moldovan language”. "Romanian language” is named in the Declaration of Independence of Moldova.

School children and students have been studying "Romanian language” and "the history of Romania” for all these years. Then, having been frightened that they will lose Pridnestrovie for ever, Moldovan authorities decided to return their previous self-identification back. They brought changes to the Moldovan Constitution and the language was again called "Moldovan”. But this fact has not changed anything. Nobody names their language this way anymore in Moldova, since the Latin graphics was introduced.

As for Pridnestrovie, the word "a Romanian” has had negative shade since war, because Pridnestrovians called this way everybody who attacked Pridnestrovie without any difference in nationalities. It is a well-known fact that Romania armed Moldova during the war period, Romania provided Moldova with officers and technical specialists.

Then another time came. It was the time of mass relocation of working population. Many people from Pridnestrovie also left their homes and moved to other countries to earn money. Relations between Moldovans and Pridnestrovians are very different. Even today one can hear people arguing about the history of Moldova and Pridnestrovie, about the future of these countries in the train "Moscow-Chisinau”. Of course, people in Russia know the difference between Moldova and Pridnestrovie, because many people from these countries work in Moscow. That is why a guest from Pridnestrovie will never say that he/she is from Moldova. Sometimes another thing happens – many Bessarabians prefer to tell lies and to say that they are from Pridnestrovie. It happens not only in Russia, but in European states as well. As for such a lie in Europe – it is the best way to get documents for Moldovans, because Pridnestrovie is considered to be a not stable region.

Moldovan president in interview for Russian newspaper KOMMERSANT (in March 2008) expressed that Moldova will never join with NATO when Pridnestrovie reunifies with Moldova. Is this scenario real?

Pridnestrovians do not see any criterion in Moldova's participation in military blocks. Moldova was not a member of NATO when it started war and killed Pridnestrovie's activists. We worry about lives of our families and we hope that Moldovan authorities will not have the opportunity to control our territory, because nobody can guarantee that a new war will not begin – neither NATO, nor Russia, nor the Ukraine, nor EU. Speaking of Moldovan authorities' promises – their words cannot be trusted, because today Pridnestrovie lives in the conditions of economic blockade and information war. Moldova initiated criminal cases against our activists. They are wanted by Interpol which is based on deliberately falsified or forged documents given by Moldova. That is why question about Moldova's membership in NATO and the question about relations between Moldova and Pridnestrovie are different questions.

Pridnestrovie (as well as other states in post-soviet region) depends on Russian subventions (economic, financial, energetical). Can you describe the level of Pridnestrovian dependence on Russia (in economic, financial and energetical sphere)? Is there any kind of favoritism compared with Moldova?

Pridnestrovie's economics was not seriously dependent on any states. Today, certain problems exist. Economic blockade of Moldova against our republic is the reason of the problems.
When Russia initiated sanctions against Moldova, Pridnestrovie was also under these sanctions. Russia tries to act in this direction uniting and calming the sides of the conflict. However, such a situation gives Moldova advantages, but Pridnestrovian economic agents are imposed by double taxes by Chisinau. Such a situation is negatively reflected on Pridnestrovie's economic growth rate.

What about Russian capital in Pridnestrovian economy?

It came here when the republic authorities, using Russian and Ukrainian experience, decided to privatize main Pridnestrovian enterprises. There is Russian capital in Pridnestrovie, but the main taxpayers are not the plants which were bought by Russian companies but local businessmen. Different opinions on the practicability of the privatization in republic exist. Recognition of Pridnestrovie would greatly enliven region's economics. There is potential and prospects not only for Russian business in the republic. As far as I know, Pridnestrovian authorities are interested in attracting investments.

As far as I know, many paramilitary organizations work in Pridnestrovie. Approximately 40 percent of local population is interested in these organizations. Can you provide us further information?

I am sure these numbers are too high – it is real propaganda. Of course, Pridnestrovians know how to use arms, and people can stand for themselves if there is such a need. However, our republic is not Palestine, it is not Chechnya of the times of Dzhokhar Dudayev – nobody walks along the streets and at the mass meetings with the Kalashnikov gun. Nobody shoots in air at the weddings and other occasions. Arms traffic is prohibited by law and there is criminal responsibility for its keeping or using.

Pridnestrovie is blamed for large scale of smuggling (weapons, human bodies, poultry, cigarettes, and drugs just to name a few). Are there any evidences? What is the attitude of Pridnestrovie to activity of EUBAM?

Pridnestrovie has been accused of many things since it appeared. This is propaganda. Because of its unrecognized status, Pridnestrovie cannot correct its reputation abroad using legal methods – it cannot bring legal actions against authors, newspapers and sponsors of such publications. EUBAM has not registered any fact of arms and human bodies smuggling for the years of its activity. Speaking about drugs and different products smuggling, it is a problem that all the states face today. In Pridnestrovie, law-enforcement agencies control this sphere and punish violators. Unfortunately, relations between Moldovan police and Pridnestrovian militsia suffered because of the disagreements among politicians. Today, the smallest violation – for example, some meat in the boot of a Pridnestrovian car – Moldovan authorities try to color in the darkest way. Still, although Moldova's citizens are very often caught at the territory of the Ukraine or Russian Federation for smuggling drugs, great sums of money, nobody writes that Moldova is a black hole. Political conflict was good for criminal representatives, and in my opinion, Chisinau is responsible for breaking any good links with Pridnestrovie.

How do you feel economic blockade? Are there any effects? Do you have any solution?

Economic blockade follows after the decisions of Moldovan authorities, who declared unilaterally that Pridnestrovie's customs documents are not legal. Moldova demanded that Pridnestrovian companies must be registered in Chisinau and then these companies were obliged to pay taxes. Thus, today many Pridnestrovian companies have to finance Moldovan authorities. At first, they explained to Pridnestrovie that our region would have some advantages. However, these measures appeared to be another problem for our commercial structures. So, Pridnestrovie finances Moldovan corruption in prejudice of its own population. Such situation is immoral from the ethical point of view. From the economic point of view, these measures appeared to bring great damage to our country. Smaller and medium business is under great risk. In fact, such a measure is a veiled form of deportation.

What local political parties are popular? And why (what kind of policy they advocate)? Do you have any so-called odious parties? Are there any pro-Moldovan parties, i.e. are there any parties that would like to reunify Pridnestrovie with Moldova? Do they have any support?

There are 9 political parties registered in Pridnestrovie, and there may appear even more. "Renewal” ("Obnovleniye”), "Breakthrough” ("Proryv”) and "Patriotic Party of Pridnestrovie” are leaders among other parties. These parties might form the next parliament of the republic. All three parties follow pro-Russian vector, because this is the choice of the most population of the republic.

"Renewal” is the party of Pridnestrovian business. It has many connections in Russia with pro-governmental movement "Yedinaya Rossia”. "Proriv” is left-of-center organization. Social-democratic values are not alien to it. "Proriv” actively involves young people. "Patriotic Party of Pridnestrovie” is headed by Oleg Smirnov, President's son. This Party actively uses religious themes and professes Orthodox values.

The ideas of possible union with Moldova are not supported in our region, that is why leading political powers do not feel like using such slogans. The theme of eurointegration, in comparison with Moldova, does not exist in Pridnestrovie and one of the reasons of such a situation is that we are separated from Europe by the country which hates Pridnestrovie and has territorial claims and threats to the region.

From time to time, there is alternation of generation in political scene. According to you, who can replace the current president Smirnov? Do you think that alternation of generation will attend any fundamental changes?

I suppose, Igor Smirnov will be the President of Pridnestrovie in the nearest future. He is our national leader. President reflects the way our republic follows. Today, there is not a single person in Pridnestrovie who has the same level of credibility. Of course, the time will pass and new leaders will appear. However, I doubt that someone, who will bring slogans of union with Moldova, will ever have an authority here. It is impossible. What is more real – that Pridnestrovie will strengthen its relations with our Slavic neighbor – the Ukraine. A lot depends on the position of Ukrainian leaders towards Moldova, which uses methods of economic war against Pridnestrovie.

Do you think that Russian soldiers are necessary in Pridnestrovie?

As Russian leaders noted for many times, they are not interested in Russian soldiers' presence here for ever. Still, the question of Russia's presence in Pridnestrovie depends on the solving of Moldovan-Pridnestrovian conflict. Russia has worked a lot on utilization and taking-out of the property of Russian Armed Forces. Today, the contingent of several hundreds of Russian soldiers is located in Pridnestrovie. The role they play is more symbolic than military. However, the very fact of Russia's presence in the region is very important for Pridnestrovie's people, because they were Russian troops who stopped Moldovan Army in 1992. In fact, Russian soldiers deterred mass disaster and deportation of Pridnestrovie's citizens. People remember these facts very well. Of course, if the war begins again, Pridnestrovians will have to rely only on themselves and they will certainly repel aggression. Still, there is hope that symbolic meaning of this not big contingent of Russian soldiers will scare away Moldovan politicians who will try to solve the conflict with the help of arms.

In 2001, Community for Democracy and Peoples Rights was established that should improve cooperation among Pridnestrovie, South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Is this organization effective? Has the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by Russia and Nicaragua had any influences on work of this community? Do you cooperate with other unrecognized states as Somaliland, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Turkish republic of Northern Cyprus just to name a few or large scale autonomous regions of other states for example Autonomous republic of Crimea? On governmental or non-governmental level and in what spheres?

Pridnestrovie develops cooperation in different directions. Long-time relations unite us with South Osetia and Abkhazia, of course. There are attempts to have contacts with other unrecognized states. We study the experience of national enclaves in the countries of EU. We try to develop relations with all the countries that are interested in the situation in our republic. People from all over the world come to Pridnestrovie, and these are not politicians only. These people want to see the difference between the picture in the newspapers, which is full of propaganda about us, and real life. Contrary to many regions and cities of Europe, it is much safer in the streets of Pridnestrovian cities and towns. There are no conflicts on race or religious grounds. In fact, Pridnestrovians created an oasis of harmonic coexistence of different ethno-confessional groups and cultures unique for European territory. Pridnestrovie and people who live in this country have many interesting traditions and unique features. We value everything that came from our ancestors. We have things to save and defend. The main thing is that we know that the number of friends of our republic grows. It means that sooner or later we will be certainly recognized.

The Ukraine seems to be a not very stable country. Do you think that political crisis that appeared there short time ago can influence the situation in Pridnestrovie?

All the troubles in the neighboring Ukraine are painfully accepted in Pridnestrovie. Dysfunctional situation in the Ukrainian economics will be reflected on us, because many of our citizens work in the territory of Ukrainian regions which are close to Pridnestrovie. Any citizen of Pridnestrovie can get Ukrainian passport and start their own business in the territory of the Ukraine. For example, many Pridnestrovians prefer to make business at the Black Sea shore during the tourist season. That is a reason why Pridnestrovians are worried about the political crisis there. People from Pridnestrovie remember how the Ukraine supported us during the war period and housed refugees.

Many Pridnestrovians and I, of course, hope that Ukrainian democracy will overcome difficulties and that fair balance of opinions and decisions will bring the Ukraine to political and economic stability.

Recently Moldovan president Vladimir Voronin had been introduced to consecration of church in a village in Pridnestrovie. Pridnestrovian border guards have not let him to Pridnestrovie. Why?

Today, Moldova is not a friend state to Pridnestrovians. Not a single constructive answer to our proposals on regulation and normal neighbor relations was given. Economic pressure and information war continue. Moldovan politicians did not really show their readiness to dialogue. All the things that were really proposed – that Pridnestrovie should be brought to political and business elite of the neighbor country on a saucer like a tasty cake.

Hundreds of criminal cases against our activists are the means of pressure. President of Pridnestrovie is wanted at the territory of Moldova – he, like many other citizens, can be arrested and thrown to prison as soon as he crosses the border. So, I do not understand how the President of unfriendly Moldova can wait for hearty welcome in our country. The leader of Moldovan communist party and President Voronin, without any pre-alignment tried to enter the territory of Pridnestrovie hiding under clergyman's cassock. He might have hoped that he "will not be noticed”. The case is really curious. I would like you to pay your attention to the fact that he was not beaten or arrested, he was not brought to prison. As for Pridnestrovian President, some years ago Igor Smirnov was kidnapped by Moldovan special services and brought to prison in Chisinau.

Pridnestrovian border guards were polite with the President of Moldova and just showed him his way back to Moldova. Pridnestrovian authorities, however, wait for President Voronin in Tiraspol for negotiations. They wait for official answer to Pridnestrovie's authorities' proposals. Everybody waits for the problems to be solved between our countries. As soon as Moldova gives audible answers to Pridnestrovians' questions, I am sure President of Moldova will not only be allowed to our territory, but he will have an opportunity to visit Pridnestrovie without any obstacles like other citizens of Moldova. Pridnestrovians are ready to start constructive dialogue and cooperation. We wait for friendly steps from Moldova instead of cold war which has continued for 2 decades. There is still hope.

Original text: We certainly will be recognized. Pridnestrovian political expert Roman Konoplev in an interview for DespiteBorders

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Moscow – Tiraspol – Bucharest

2008-02-03T00:20:00.001+02:00

Author: Roman Konoplev, expert of Pridnestrovian Sociological Informational and Analytical "S-Center".

1.

Despite numerous apocalyptic forecasts touching instability of today's Russian political class – which, say, is just about to fall, balancing at the edge of coming system crises – someone's hopes and somebody's phobia may not realize at all.

Watching Russian politics from Tiraspol, the situation in Russian Federation doesn't seem shaky. In comparison with new "turning" processes in the Ukraine, with coming diplomatic war between Moldova and Romania and with troubles in Romania connected with its shy anti-American position in the Kosovo conflict, Moscow political hippodrome didn't bring any global surprises in the last months and perhaps won't bring any in the nearest future. Political stability of the Russian ruling elite was shaken neither by obvious miscalculations during the elections to State Duma, nor by rise in prices. Absolute indicator of stability is Russian stock market. Regime is stable, regime is steady, regime is able to protect itself.

Speaking about troubles, which the population faces, Russians, who survived the epoch of 1990s, are less interested in putting forward any political slogans to the ruling class. The majority of Russian people live aside from the power. However, they exist separately from the opponents of the power as well. There were worse times in history, of course. Besides, there is an indicative factor of decrease of economic immigration: people do not run away from the country. They do from the Ukraine, Moldova, but they do not run away from Russia. Looking at what the politicians of anti-Kremlin camp could offer, Russian people didn't take risk and didn't participate in any mass meetings or marches. Moreover, the fact is obvious: it is easier to leave Russia today then to sacrifice oneself in the political struggle for somebody's "just cause". Still, people do not leave.

2.

Pro-Russian enclaves' interest in internal political situation in Russian Federation is limited by two demands: Pridnestrovie is interested in Russia which is a significant political and economic world player. Pridnestrovians are grateful to Russia for the soldiers who continue to stay here. Russian "man with a gun" is today a guarantor of existence of Pridnestrovian statehood.

Today, there are no grounds to think that the successor of today's President of Russian Federation will change Russia's position in the question of existence and support of pro-Russian enclaves, despite he is characterized by Europeans as "intelligent", "modern", "European", "protégé of the siloviki's opponents". Personnels, the handover of power and all the things like that make no interest for Russians who live in Pridnestrovie.

Pridnestrovie was satisfied with the results of elections to Russian State Duma, because none of the parties that won is anti-Pridnestrovian. On the contrary, representatives of the largest Russian Parties spoke to support PMR and to leave the format of peacekeeping operation on the Dniester unchanged.

Today's Russian political elite doesn't create illusions about Pridnestrovie's opponents – Moldova, first of all – that's why army is present in the region.

Russian soldiers are considered to be the primary factor of "solving Pridnestrovian question" by Western experts as well. The position of European and American officials is static: "Moldova will be united after Russian troops leave". The price for this unity is not mentioned, of course. However, every Pridnestrovie's citizen understands what the price will be, especially when they are interested in the destiny of Serbs in Kosovo.

If Russian troops leave, Moldovan nationalists will certainly raise their heads – Pridnestrovians are sure about it. Monoethnic country is being built in Moldova, political prisoners are under arrests, schools and university groups with Russian being primary language are closed. People who have second citizenship are declared to be beyond the law. State services are closed for them. Most of Pridnestrovians didn't make Moldovan documents, there is no such necessity. Moldovan and Pridnestrovian citizens' destinies lead to different directions. The population of Bessarabia reasonably considers Pridnestrovie to be a foreign country. These are not only Pridnestrovian customs that make people understand it, but first of all it is great difference in mentalities, educational systems, holidays and values. Even 9 of May is a different holiday for Pridnestrovians and Moldovans: instead of the Victory Day Moldova celebrates today "The Day of Europe".

Pridnestrovie continues to be a serious unit of interests of Russian corporations in the Black Sea region and in the Balkan direction. First of all, here we speak about metallurgy and energetics. Certainly, Russian business has to take into account political risks. However, Russian investors are not going to leave their positions here. Moreover, Russian business successfully works in Romania as well. Speaking about the chain of promoting interests of large Russian companies through the line Moscow – Tirapol – Bucharest, wildness of today's Bessarabia is a temporary obstacle and Moldovan authorities – are an obvious misunderstanding.

3.

What does Pridnestrovie have today in the face of today's Moldova? Since the time when Kozak's memorandum wasn't signed, Moldova slowly has become "American pedal". But here we speak not about Pridnestrovie. Moldova today is a pedal of pressure on Romania that in fact is a brotherly state for Bessarabia.

Shy independence of Romanian President Treyan Besescu in the Kosovo question has become a trouble for Romanians in different parts of the world. Even today it is possible to speak about Romania slowly becoming country-derelict inside European Union. It is important to pay attention at Eurobureaucracy's proposal to create ethno-national Gipsy country. Such a "prospect" will probably be positively accepted by Old Europe. "Black present" from the USA in the face of gipsy autonomy together with Hungarian Transylvania is a step towards making out of Romania second Yugoslavia. But, fortunately, these are still just unofficial gossips and hints. In reality, today there is another stronger mechanism of pressuring Bucharest – it is American whip – Italy.

"When you come to the airport Timishoara, you can feel as if you were in Italy, "Le Monde" informs. – Announcements and traffic signs are in two languages: in Italian and Romanian. Some words coincide, because both of the languages have common ancient Latin base. But beginning with the second half of November relations between two brotherly states began to grow cold. Italian Government passed the decree about deportation which will touch mostly Romanian citizens".

Several strong and unjustified measures were taken by Italian authorities to the Romanian citizens. Last year's anti-Georgian measures in Moscow look like a children's entertainment in comparison with them. In the midNovember policemen rushed into the hotel room of Romanian movie star – Laura Vasiliu - in the center of Turin. They said that she was "mistakenly" charged in children trafficking. Comments are excessive. Romanian citizens are lynched today in Italy by "respectable citizens", Parliament passes normative documents and make deportations from one EU country to another legal. In accordance with Romanian President, more than 10 Romanian citizens were killed in Italy. Of course, this is data of official statistics.

Taking into account the fact that 2 million Romanian citizens work abroad today, usually illegally, situation is rather painful. Italian President declared that about 200 000 Romanian citizens must be deported immediately. Approximately half a million Romanian citizens live in Italy today, and not all of them are gipsy. Such a deep conflict is likely to touch businessmen's interests.

Rome is the main Bucharest's partner: about 22 thousand Italian enterprises function in Romania, in comparison with only 7 thousand firms that are opened in Italy by Romanians. Significant Italian companies in Romania are afraid of repressions. Romanians began to treat Italians contemptiously. The last example – is the case at Atomic Power Station in Chernavoda, where one of the workers was interested why Italian engineers earn thousands euro being less competent than they seem to be. Crisis may affect agriculture as well. Italians own about 2% of fertile Romanian soil, and these 2% are 300 thousand hectares.

Italians say that their Economic Development Minister, who was in Romania not long ago, has no idea about Romanian citizens. "I can tell you that it is much safer to be an Italian in Romania then a Romanian in Italy," says Italian businessman in Timishoara. "There was a situation when an Italian killed a Romanian woman, and Romanian authorities didn't hurry to call all the Italians criminals. They just accused the guilty person and that's it," said the businessman in his interview to the newspaper "Le Monde".

The explosion of anti-Romanian xenophobia in Italy is not accidental. As well as aggravation of relations between Romania and Moldova can't be accidental. Besides expelling Romanian diplomats, Moldovan authorities managed to become marasmatic in "fur-tree" question. Romanians traditionally celebrate Christmas according to European canons – on 25 December, other ethnic groups that live in Bessarabia – a week after the New Year's Eve. Chisinau mayoralty which is now headed by the graduate of Bucharest University Dorin Kirtoake made a decision to put the New Year's tree in the center of Chisinau a bit earlier – republican authorities ordered to take the tree away.

4.

At the background of events that happen today around Tiraspol in Pridnestrovie, despite budget crisis, situation is more or less stable. Looking at the East, Pridnestrovians themselves see the guarantee of their security in the face of today's Russian governors. All the other "stabilities" – including financial, social and others – can disappear and can be reborn temporally. Pridnestrovians are, of course, worried about these stabilities, as well as Russian citizens who live in Pridnestrovie.

However, there can be no claims to Russia on this matter. Pridnestrovie's strive for independence from Moldova is an absolute value for the citizens of Russian-speaking enclave. Here people understand that in such a question the most important thing is time. Taking into consideration rising ambitions of political Russian elites to recreate superstate and to promote their commercial interests towards Balkans, the time works for Pridnestrovians.

Roman Konoplev

First published at apn.ru

http://tiras.ru/en/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1201964290&archive=&start_from=&ucat=25&

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Roman Konoplev: “Capitalism for trustful people”

2008-02-01T18:37:00.000+02:00

03/02/2008 PMR News

"Youth exchange" – pleasant journey or voluntary slavery?

Information to think about: the USA Consulate in Moldova refused to cooperate with 9 Moldovan companies that send students to work in America by program "Summer work and travel", David France, the USA consul-general in Moldavia said to journalists. According to David France, this was made because of numerous complaints from clients for company's infringements. In accordance with consulate's data, every fifth person of those who took part in the program didn't return home, and almost every second student arrived late. "Students who signed contracts with them must demand their money back. We won't accept any cases from these students, but we will check carefully the companies with which we will cooperate in 2008. It is not excluded, that very soon there will be more companies in the black list", David France explained. Moldovan consulate in Washington has data that there are students, who came to the US, who were arrested and lost. "Not everybody was satisfied with the program. We received numerous complaints on bad conditions, small salaries", the USA consul in Moldavia admitted during his conversation with journalists."

Unfortunately, activities of many commercial organizations that deal with so-called "youth exchange" bring lots of problems to young people. Details of conflict situations and sad stories of the participants of program "Work & Travel" are discussed at numerous Russian Internet-forums. Half an hour in any Internet-café will be enough to get "impressions" of the season workers but not the fables that chiefs of commercial firms describe to interest young people for doubtful "exchange".

It is not surprising that firms which send people abroad make it to promote their interests and don't give full information about staying there. It is not a problem of "love" or "hatred", "real patriotism" or "archaic patriotism". It is a problem of commercial relations between a young person who paid money and a sad result. It is a problem of unconscientiousness of the business and legal illiteracy of citizens: of both parents and students. Unfortunately, disappointment is the first thing that relatives and friends of the participants of "youth exchange" hear when they talk on the phone.

Labour markets of the USA and Europe really need season workers. It is agriculture that suffers most of all. However, in accordance with European understanding of the term "human trafficking", it is every employment of the foreigners in the cases when the sum of money paid to the commercial representative of the "employer" is more than price for tickets and visa. Thus, young people have to fulfil the money that were put into program for a month or two like a slave and then, they have a chance to earn some money during the last month if they save this money. It is hard to find difference between such an exchange and Moscow building areas. At least, tickets to Moscow are cheaper and one doesn't need any visa.

Law enforcement bodies of the USA and Europe shut their eyes at such practices of exploitation of foreigners, because their economics need season workers in relation to whom there are almost no social guarantees, working hours are often 10-12, there are usually no weekends, there are fines for any faults etc. There is often no possibility to change the employer, the conditions of medical help are not often reserved in contracts. Consulates of the Russian Federation, Ukraine in the US and EU are filled up with appeals from young people who found themselves in difficult situations after signing contracts of "youth exchange".

It is also important to note that the majority of firms, that deal with sending people abroad to work and cover under the terminologies "youth exchange", "friendship between peoples", "see the world" and so on, first of all want to promote their own commercial interests. Secondly, they help European and US economics when sending cheap season labour.

Those who really want to see the world or to learn foreign language abroad can come to any tourist agency which will certainly recommend cheaper variant of excursion and language tours to any country of the world. In this case you won't have to leave your institute for half a year to pick out strawberries at the Great Britain fields, to live in the middle of the field in dirty tents or cardboard hostels of the USA together with the poor and losers.

Work that is promoted by the firms of "youth exchange" may badly damage your health. It is not accidental that local citizens and students, even the poorest, avoid agriculture works, petrol stations and different "Mc Donald's". Health and high-grade education cost much today.

The USA Authorities appeared to be worried about the fact that because of the activities of "youth exchange" programs young people disappear, sometimes die and are imprisoned at the territory of the country. In these cases American officials' conscience prevailed over the USA economics' interests. However, it looks like Germans' "care" about illegal workers who were taken from the territory of the USSR during Great Patriotic War to slavery. They also got some money there, and they might have not been offended there. But it is not a misunderstanding after which today's German Government pays billions euro to the elderly Ukrainians, Russians, Byelorussians who went to the Third Reich being young. Germans today pay almost for the same things that now happen because of the programs of "youth exchange".

What does "every fifth didn't return home" mean according to the USA consul-general in Moldova? To make it clear it means "to become illegal in the country". The consequences of such a step may be very different. "Illegal" means beyond the law - work without documents, social support and guarantees that you'll get your salary. Nobody is responsible for your health. The next phase is usually criminal and prison. Even without criminal – till you meet the first policeman. Breaking visa regime – which is common for illegal workers – is a serious disrespect to the local laws. The result – the same prison and deportation with the prohibition to enter this country for 15 years. Illegal worker is helpless before mafia, people traffickers, swindlers. Illegal worker's death is not interesting for anyone except his relatives who live far away without knowing anything about him. As a rule, relatives won't even have a chance to go to the tomb of the dead. Illegal worker will be burnt in the furnace, and his mother will may get his passport and a document that she doesn't have to wait her child anymore. As you see, no romance and "journeys". And it is not surprising that mother of one of the students, who died when working far away, came to one of the offices of such a firm with a poster "Work & Travel" – pay and die.

The first question that a young person may ask is how much money he will lose if he won't get visa. If the commercial worker says that they return 100 %, it is a lie, because the USA Embassy will take about 100$ and won't return it even if visa won't be given. This is the requirement of the USA Embassy when the documents are being made – "It is not important whether we give or not, but 100 dollars - certainly".

The recruiter of so-called "youth exchange" will earn money anyway – even if you don't get a visa. It is his business, his time, and it costs money which the student will have to pay. As a rule, the money that businessmen earn is that taken thanks to trustful people who don't get visa. The recruiter won't miss what he wants anyway.

In the case if you get the USA visa, you must be sure – even more people will earn money thanks to you: local recruiter, and, of course, his counterpart – some firm "Horns and hooves" which is registered in the US by enterprising businessmen – as a rule a citizen of the former USSR.

Of course, it is much better to sell youth labor instead of working at the field or breathing petrol at the petrol station. Anyway, young people won't think about any local culture or language after a hard working day. It is called capitalism for trustful people and voluntary slaves. This is the world which the recruiters of the "youth exchange" will show you. It is their business and it doesn't cost enough to sacrifice your time, education, relatives and friends.

Roman Konoplev

Clause is taken from a site PMR News (http://tiras.ru)
http://tiras.ru/en/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1202054294&archive=&start_from=&ucat=25&

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OSCE-head in Tiraspol for talks with Transdniestria's President, Foreign Minister

2008-01-18T00:18:00.000+02:00

OSCE chairman-in-office Ilkka Kanerva visited Transdniestria on Thursday for official talks with the unrecognized country's government. In Tiraspol, he met with President Igor Smirnov, Foreign Minister Valeri Litskai, and leading members of Parliament. He urged all sides to resume direct talks over Transdniestria's future.

During a visit Thursday to Tiraspol, the capital of Transdniestria, the head of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) called on Moldova and Transdniestria to resume status settlement talks over the disputed territory and welcomed signs that both sides were willing to discuss the free movement of goods, services and people across the Dniester river.

" - The OSCE has been working intensively with the chief negotiators to restart the 5+2 negotiations," the OSCE chairman-in-office, Finnish Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva, said in a prepared statement published on the organization's website. The 5+2 negotiations bring together Russia, Ukraine and the OSCE as mediators, together with the European Union and United States as observers, with the two parties represented by the Transdniestrian and the Moldovan governments.

As OSCE's 2008 chairman-in-office, Ilkka Kanerva visited Tiraspol on Thursday where he met with President Igor Smirnov, Foreign Minister Valeri Litskai and key opposition leader Yevgeny Shevchuk, the current Speaker of Parliament. This was the second visit in less than six months of the top OSCE official, with former chairman-in-office Miguel Angel Moratinos having visited the Transdniestrian capital in October 2007.

Transdniestria, officially named Pridnestrovie according to its constitution and local customs, declared independence in 1990, one year before Moldova. It has a non-Moldovan majority and it has never been part of Moldova or Romania at any time in the history of any of these two countries.

Resumption of negotiations

During his visit to the capital of Transdniestria (Pridnestrovie) on Thursday, Ilkka Kanerva welcomed recent signs that Moldova and Transdniestria "were open to a good-faith dialogue on practical issues such as restrictions on freedom of movement and the interruption of communications links."

" - This would be an important first step, and people on both sides would profit if solutions for these practical matters were found," Kanerva said. "Furthermore, engagement can help build trust and assist us in achieving progress on the status question," he added.

" - To me it was pleasant to arrive in Transdniestria and become acquainted with the situation here and with your opinions. Today, the Transdniestrian side has expressed its own point of view very clearly. During this trip I visited Ukraine, Moldova, and now I arrived here with you," said Kanerva.

" - We agreed that we should again attempt to negotiate. Not in a way whereby OSCE issues orders, but rather our intentions are to act as a servant and facilitate the process. We will actively contribute to status settlement talks," said Kanerva. "I am certain that Transdniestria finds itself in the hands of a strong leader," he also added after the meeting with elected President Igor Smirnov and his team.

"Solving the conflict" has different meanings

The OSCE's chairman-in-office also noted the willingness of both sides to resolve the conflict, although local newsman Roman Konoplev points out that this is not as straightforward as it sounds.

" - The key problem is that the words 'solving the conflict' means different things to either side. As far as Moldova is concerned, the 'solution' must be the one that its own government imposes," explains Konoplev. "Whereas Transdniestria thinks that any solution has to respect the will of the people, and that the final outcome must be based on the results of free and fair elections."

Direct talks between Moldova and Transdniestria started at the beginning of 1993, after Moldova failed to conquer the territory in a series of military attacks in 1992. The talks resulted in a number of signed agreements by the sides, which Moldova has largely failed to abide by. Moldova unilaterally left the talks at the end of February 2006, offering no explanation.

A few days later, in a surprise move, the Moldova began a blockade which prevented the free movement of goods from Transdniestria without prior Moldovan approval; effectively blocking the unrecognized country's exports. The customs blockade was in direct contravention of a 1997 memorandum signed by both sides, by which Moldova grants Transdniestria autonomy in the area of foreign trade. Transdniestria wants Moldova to refrain from economic pressure, and has asked Moldova to abide by the terms of the previously signed 1997 agreement. (With information from OSCE)

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Ron Paul wins in Transdniestria

2008-01-10T12:53:00.002+02:00

Published on Tiraspol Times & Weekly Review (http://www.tiraspoltimes.com)

By Jason Cooper

Created 4 Jan 2008 - 4:36pm

Voters in Transdniestria (shown) believe that a Ron Paul presidency will bring about a safer world with more respect for freedom

TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - If Transdniestria could vote in the U.S. Presidential election, Ron Paul would win. So says local journalist Roman Konoplev, editor-in-chief of news agency Lenta PMR, after polling voters and publishing a comparative analysis of the candidate's foreign policy positions.

Paul, a ten-term Congressman from Texas, is seeking the Republican Party's nomination for the U.S. Presidency on a platform of a non-interventionist foreign policy which respects democracy and the right to self-determination.

" - What this means, for us, is that he will not make it U.S. policy to oppose our freedom and independence," says Roman Konoplev. "Instead, the issue will be decided strictly on the basis of legal principles. And according to international law, we have the same right to independent statehood as our two neighbors, Moldova and Ukraine, and as a number of other countries which also declared independence in the breakup of the Soviet Union nearly twenty years ago."

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul is the top choice for Transdniestria, where the population overwhelmingly wants freedom and independence. "A Ron Paul win would mark a return to moral principles in foreign relations and the respect for international law," says a local political analyst.

Paul serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and his foreign policy positions have always advocated freedom for the citizens of the former Soviet Union. During the Cold War, Ron Paul led the Texas Delegation to nominate Ronald Reagan for president. The Reagan presidency played a key role in bringing an end to the Soviet Union.

Transdniestria, which is officially named Pridnestrovie according to its constitution, but which is also known under names such as Trans-Dniester and Transnistria, was lumped together with Moldova as part of the Soviet Union from 1940 to 1990. In 1990, Transdniestria declared independence, with Moldova doing the same one year later, in 1991.

The international community recognized Moldova's independence declaration but failed to do the same for Transdniestria, which today has the status of unrecognized country and lacks UN membership, a position similar to that of Taiwan.

Moldova maintains a territorial claim over the disputed territory, even though Moldova officially denounced the 1940 merger of Transdniestria and Moldova inside the Soviet Union as illegal. The 1940-1990 union of the two sides, based on Stalin's and Hitlers "Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact", took place by force and did not involve a referendum. It was declared "null and void ab initio" ("from the outset") by Moldova's parliament in the Republic of Moldova's own 1991 independence declaration.

Freedom for Transdniestria if that is what its people want

Ron Paul advocates a non-interventionist foreign policy, and is against U.S. military involvement in areas that represent no direct threat to America. In line with the official foreign policy objectives of Transdniestria, which were approved by the country's Parliament in 2005, Ron Paul is against the expansion of NATO and instead supports the idea of strong national sovereignty.

Tiraspol-based journalist Roman Konoplev, editor in chief of news agency Lenta PMR, spearheads the campaign for Ron Paul in the new and emerging country.

On 15 October 2007, Paul introduced the American Freedom Agenda Act of 2007, which among other things would "bar the use of evidence obtained through torture; require that federal intelligence gathering is conducted in accordance with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA); prohibit kidnapping, detentions, and torture abroad; and protect journalists."

" - Ron Paul also supports free trade, which is important for a small country like ours that relies heavily on our industrial base, our manufacturing capabilities and our exports," says Konoplev. "Transdniestria already has commercial relations with 99 countries around the world, and we want to increase our trade and create win-win relations with others who want to do business with us on a free, open and peaceful basis."

" - Ron Paul is also against excessive taxation," explains Konoplev, "and that, too, brings him 100% in sync with Transdniestria. Here, today, we now have a 10% flat tax. But if we come under Moldova's rule, taxes will shoot through the roof. Independence and low taxes go hand in hand," he says.

Officially called Pridnestrovie, but also known as Transdniester or Transnistria, the 'de facto' independent country is located near the Black Sea between Moldova and Ukraine. It declared independence in 1990, one year before Moldova.

" - It is also significant that he respects the right of people all over the world to choose their own future, and their own way forward," adds Roman Konoplev. "This means freedom for Transdniestria if that is what the people want, with no foreign interference or any outsiders telling them why they can not be free."

The small country's 550,000 people are overwhelmingly pro-independence. In a September 2006 referendum, which participating international observers said was free and fair, they voted 97% for independence and 94% against integration with Moldova.

Warnings of "soft fascism"

Other issues that Konoplev says resonate with Transdniestrians include Ron Paul's support for Constitutional rights, freedom of the Internet, and habeas corpus for political detainees.

On Friday, the news editor ran a front page story for Lenta PMR on Paul's positions, detailing how the candidate's concerns over U.S. policy coincide closely with opinions expressed locally by the populace of Transdniestria.

In addition, the article covered FBI's latest $1 billion effort to build the world's largest computer database of peoples' physical characteristics, a biometrics database which critics say will diminish the privacy rights of all Americans as well as foreigners who are unlucky enough to be caught up in it.

" - There are signs of fascism in the way that the American government wants to control its people more and more every day," says Roman Konoplev, who remembers growing up under Soviet rule and who later lived in both Sweden and Norway before moving back to Transdniestria.

" - The Soviet Union would have loved to be able to do the same, but it couldn't and now it is gone. Now that we are free, we want to stay that way. I can guarantee you that our population is now too well-informed and educated to never accept such a thing. It smacks of creeping fascism," he adds.

In December, Ron Paul told NBC's Meet the Press that the United States has adopted fascist leanings. Changes in the country's tone, says the Congressman, such as the Patriot Act, questioning dissenters' patriotism during the war, and civil liberties abuses indicate "soft fascism."

" - We're moving in that direction," warns Ron Paul. "We're not moving toward Hitler-type fascism, but we're moving toward a softer fascism. Loss of civil liberties, corporations running the show, big government in bed with big business. So you have the military industrial complex, you have the medical industrial complex, you have the financial industry, you have the communications industry. They go to Washington and spend hundreds of millions of dollars."

" - That's where the control is," says the Congressman. "I call that a soft form of fascism - something that's very dangerous."

Civil liberties concerns like these have also led Ron Paul to oppose the Patriot Act, a national ID card, federal government use of torture, and domestic surveillance.

" - And on foreign policy, he has a clear and tolerant attitude that freedom must come first," says Roman Konoplev. "As long as we respect the right of our neighbors to independence, we also expect them to respect our own right to be independent, too. The same rules for everyone, and a strict adherence to international law. That is what creates stability. A Ron Paul presidency will be the best guarantee of freedom for Transdniestria and stability in the Black Sea region."

'De facto' independent country

Transdniestria has never been part of an independent Moldovan state at any time in the past, and has a non-Moldovan majority which speaks a different language from Moldova.

Since 1990, Transdniestria has governed itself as a "de facto" independent country with its own government, democratically elected free market president, and a parliament which is led by an opposition party.

Several recent studies point out that Transdniestria already meets the requirements for statehood under international law. It has a defined territory which is larger than Luxembourg, a permanent population twice the size of Iceland's, a democratic government, and a Foreign Ministry which seeks peaceful relations with other members of the international community.

The new and emerging country also has its own flag, passports, a Central Bank, its own currency, and issues its own stamps. It has a health care system, a national army, a border service, postal system, and a large national university. Transdniestria has its own license plates, a Constitution, a Supreme Court and a national anthem. Broadband internet (ADSL) reaches all homes throughout the length of the country.

Now, the 18 year old nation puts its hopes on Ron Paul.

" - A Ron Paul win would mark a return to moral principles in foreign relations and the respect for international law," says local political analyst Sergei Ilchenko, a former resident of Chisinau (Moldova) who moved to Transdniestria's capital Tiraspol and now supports the right of the young state to become a member of the international community. "In foreign policy, the world needs fewer double standards, less hypocrisy and more realism that takes the facts on the ground into account. Ron Paul brings fresh hope to the rest of the world."

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Banning double citizenship widens gulf between Moldova and Transnistria

2007-10-20T13:02:00.001+03:00

Published on Tiraspol Times & Weekly Review (http://www.tiraspoltimes.com)

By Jason Cooper

Created 16 Oct 2007 - 3:32am

Roman Konoplev, editor of Lenta PMR, sees Moldova's double citizenship prohibition for public workers as a way to exclude PMR

CHISINAU (Tiraspol Times) - In Moldova, public officials and politicians will no longer be able to have double citizenship. This effectively prevents the entry of currently active politicians in Transdniestria from any influence in Moldova. It also widens the gulf between the two sides; making any chance of eventual unification an ever-more distant possibility, in the opinion of one wellknown political analyst.

Legislators in the Republic of Moldova passed this week an unprecedented bill forbidding citizens with double citizenship to hold seats in the government, the parliament or the state apparatus, according to Nezavissimaya Gazeta. In short, anyone with double citizenship is barred from state employment in Moldova.

In a country were almost two thirds of the population hold either Russian and or Romanian citizenship beside the Moldovan citizenship, such an action can be regarded as an attempt of the ruling party to defend the nation against influences from Romania or Russia.

Moldova separates itself from Pridnestrovie

Even more significantly, according to political analyst Roman Konoplev, the move widens the gulf between the two sides in the Moldova-Transdniestria conflict; Chisinau and Tiraspol.

" - This bill eliminates whatever positive tendencies the dialogue between Moldova and Pridnestrovie could have. The idea of the authors of this new law is to make Pridnestrovie and the Pridnestrovians illegal, and to exclude them from Moldovan politics. It is not a secret that most of our citizens have either Russian or the Ukrainian citizenships," says Roman Konoplev. The editor-in-chief of online news agency Lenta PMR explains why: "After the war for independence, for obvious reasons PMR's inhabitants didn't consider it possible to become citizens of the country whose army caused atrocities here on our territory."

" - But now, Moldova has made one more step towards its separation from Pridnestrovie. Thus, in accordance with Moldovan legislation, those who live here but don't have a Moldovan passport are, de jure from the Moldovan point of view, considered "occupants" by Moldova. It means that anyone of us Pridnestrovians who hold other passports are now, in the eyes of the Moldovan authorities and law enforcement bodies, outside the law," says Konoplev.

" - So, Chisinau sends all us of a clear signal that their war against us is not over. The Moldovan authorities are laying the ground for future deportations," Roman Konoplev declared.

Opposition parties helpless against the law

In Moldova, local opposition parties were also worried about the way that the law excludes minorities and is discriminatory against those who don't follow the party line of Moldovan strongman Vladimir Voronin. Democratic Party leader Dumitru Diacov considers that the bill triggers the influences of the neighboring countries. In his opinion, quoted by the Russian publication, the situation is absurd because there are people who hold as many as four passports. He classifies the attempt a discrimination against national minorities.

Social Democratic leader, former PM Dumitru Branghis says that the draft is meant to discredit the opposition parties for the upcoming legislative elections in 2009 as many opposition MPs hold Romanian passports.

The opposition parties are helpless and can not stop the law from being passed, due to their limited power in Moldova's legislature. Under the guise of Moldovan nationalism, discriminatory laws have previously passed over the objections of Moldova's small democratic opposition.

"Gradual Romanization being pushed by authorities"

Two American members of the U.S. Peace Corps, Alex and Bathsheba, have first hand experience of the way that the government is pushing out Russian in favor of the forced replacement of Romanian.

They are both stationed in Drochia, located in the far north of Moldova about 3 hours bus ride from Chisinau. Like in other mixed communities, the rights of the Russian minority are being suppressed in favor of enforced Romanianization by the authories.

" - Drochia is predominantly Russian despite the gradual Romanization being pushed by non-communist district authorities," says one of the U.S. Peace Corps volunteers, Alex, directly from the scene.

The same in true in Chisinau, Moldova's capital, which used to be inhabited mostly by Russian-speakers. The city's mayor, Dorin Chirtoacă, came to national prominence when he led a campaign to ban billboards and other outdoor advertising with text written in Russian. He also moved to restrict freedom of expression by banning Russian-language TV spots from the airwaves.

" - We are treated as second class citizens," says a Russian speaker in Chisinau who fears for her safety if she gives her name publicly. "The authorities here want to ban the use of Russian from public life. And if they could, they would drive it underground."

Transdniestria (officially: Pridnestrovie, but also known under names such as Transnistria and Transdniester) declared independence in 1990 after a series of laws were passed in Moldova which discriminated against ethnic minorities. Today, 17 years later, little has changed: Moldova continues to pass discriminatory laws and Transdniestria continues seeking international recognition of its independence. (With info from HotNews)

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Roman Konoplev: Mr Lotman is provoking international scandal for purpose

2007-10-04T12:07:00.000+03:00

04/10/2007 PMR News

Yesterday, report on obligations, which Moldova must bring to life because of its membership in the European Council, was discussed in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly in Strasburg.

Member of the Estonian delegation - Alex Lotman - supported Moldavia and its Authorities in his speech and accused Russia of preventing development of democracy in the country and of having their army at the territory of the country.

In accordance with Lotman, one can easily see that Moldova has made a lot of efforts to realize democratic reforms. Further development of democracy in the country depends, in his opinion, not on the authorities but on Russia's decision whether to call back its army from Pridnestrovie or not.

"Russia doesn't have a legal mandate to have its troops at the Moldavian territory. Thus we face the problem – troops of one country – member of the PACE occupied territory of the another country, also member of the PACE, thus preventing other countries from following their obligations and agreements", Lotman said. "The only way out is to call back Russian troops", he added, Estonian information portal Postimees.ee reports.

In accordance with Roman Konoplev, Pridnestrovian political worker, Press-Secretary of the People's Democratic Party "PRORIV!","on 21 July 1992 Russian and Moldavian Presidents at the meeting with Igor Smirnov, Pridnestrovie's President, signed the agreement "About the principles of regulating armed conflict in the Pridnestrovian region of Republic of Moldova", in accordance with which operation of the United peacekeeping forces started in the conflict zone.

Authority of the United peacekeeping forces was defined by the protocol №3 of the meeting of Joint control commission on 29 July 1992. Peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation was formed on the base of this document. Not a single person suffered in the conflict zone since then. Mr Lotman must be not well informed about the situation in the region, or he might want provoke international scandal by his ridiculous declaration for purpose.

Such self-advertising is not appropriate in such a serious question as keeping peace in the zone of Moldo-Pridnestrovian conflict. The fact that members of PACE have been ignoring opinion of Pridnestrovians is shocking. Speaking about armed conflict, citizens of all the nationalities that live on the territory of our state took part in it on Pridnestrovie's side".

"Pridnestrovian citizens made their choice – to build their own independent state.The right of Pridnestrovians for self-identification is as natural as the right of Estonia, which decided to leave Soviet Union. When Moldavian SSR was created, and Bessarabia joint Pridnestrovie, which had autonomous status as the part of the Ukraine, nobody asked then whether Pridnestrovian citizens wanted it to happen or not.

That's why PACE should be more attentive to the opinion of citizens of our republic. To coordinate further development of democracy in Moldova with situation in Pridnestrovie is at least unethical – it means carrying responsibility from the sick head to the healthy one. Russian peacekeepers absolutely don't prevent Moldovan Authorities from struggle with corruption and from liberating political prisoner Ivan Burgudji and from following the way of democratization of their own regime, because life of people there is becoming worse and worse year after year", Konoplev declared.

Clause is taken from a site PMR News (http://tiras.ru)
http://tiras.ru/en/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1191449040&archive=&start_from=&ucat=25&

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Roman Konoplev: Blue Oysters of the Eurointegration

2007-06-18T00:16:00.000+03:00

18/06/2007 22:51 :: PMR News

On June 16, Kalman Mizsei, special representative of the European Union in Moldova, and Louis O'Neill, the head of the OSCE Mission in Moldova, met with the representatives of Pridnestrovie's non-governmental organizations. The meeting took place in the Tiraspol office of the OSCE Mission.

In his speech Kalman Mizsei, who had been struggling for many years in the bowels of the UNO's bureaucracy, noted that he tries "to help everybody, who would like to solve Pridnestrovian problem". It was his first contact with the representatives of the Pridnestrovian civil society.

In accordance with the special representative of the European Union, "European Union was created to unite countries and people. They are united by common values and friendship of the equal partners, peoples and religions. There are no big or little in the EU – everybody is equal. When we watch Pridnestrovian problem we also want to propose our values to solve it".

Afterwards Kalman Mizsei, because of his not good Russian, said with a voice of protestant pastor: "We want Pridnestrovie to become civilized".

If follow his opinion, integration with Moldova on the conditions of "sufficient autonomy" is possible. EU is ready "to help Moldova so that there will be trust between you and nobody will see the enemy in Chisinau". Special representative didn't explain how such innovations touch Pridnestrovie and the memory of the Pridnestrovie's people about victims of the war, although he tried to demonstrate understanding and insight.

The main theme to discuss, proposed by Kalman Mizsei, was the problem of homosexuality in Pridnestrovie, at this moment he put his hand confidentially on the shoulder of wondering Louis O'Neill.
Special representative has an opinion that sexual minorities don't have enough rights in Pridnestrovie. The head of Pridnestrovie's NGO "Gender – Ost", Alexey Klimov, who specializes in "blue" theme, supported this talk.

Alexey Klimov complained on the insufficiency of the sexual minorities' rights and on the impossibility of the homosexuals and lesbians to express their rights in an open manner. Mr. Klimov seemed to impress Kalman Mizsei, showing himself as the main local expert and money-receiver for the sake of Pridnestrovian sexual minorities from "bloody prosecutions of the totalitarian regime".

However, other participants of the meeting didn't support Mr. Klimov's position, they initiated the discussion about protection of the majority from the aggressive sexual minorities if they get any rights to demonstrate their orientation and to propagate unisex. Mr. Klimov declared to the EU representative: "We have registration and work constantly. I'm very glad for being invited to this meeting. We will cooperate and adjust communications to lobby interests of the sexual minorities, whose rights are being broken". At this point Louis O'Neill interrupted the blue lobbyist, and proposed to speak about more psychologically healthy things.

EU special representative declared:" There is hatred and prejudices in Normand, Cyprus and Azerbaijan, too". In accordance with the head of OSCE Mission, Pridnestrovie should have "a special status" as a result of the regulation of the conflict.

Answering the question of Grigoriy Volovoy, the avocate of human rights, about Pridnestrovian import, which will be prohibited beginning with July 1, Kalman Mizsei noted:" The essence of the initiative is to help Pridnestrovian enterprises to appear at the European market. If these companies want to get preferences, they should follow common rules. Today there is a certain conflict round this situation, and we should find the right decision. I'm not a specialist in economics, but I'm sure that experts will find the needed answer".

The worker of the oppositional journalists' movement, the participant of presidential elections in PMR – Andrey Safonov touched the theme of Mass Media. In accordance with him, "it is not easy to name the date of the regulation but the civil society should be built anyway, because people have to meet state officials every day and they have certain problems. We underestimate the situation, we think that other countries will solve our problems. We should develop the work of independent Media". Thus, a hope for the attention from Kalman Mizsei must have been expressed speaking about financing of "independent mass media". Special representative of EU in Moldova didn't give any comments about this commercial proposal.

Then, military themes were discussed. The chief of Ribnitsa's "Evrika" again complained on the lack of education in Romanian. He reported in a horrible voice that "Russia wants to build a military unit and they don't want to clean anything and they won't do it". The representatives of NGOs and the special representative together with the head of OSCE Mission came to common decision: operation group of the Russian Troops and the warehouse in Kolbasna are not of military importance. Special representative of the EU promised that though he is not an expert in this field, he hopes that the decision will be found. And in general, he would like that Pridnestrovie will be "like Belgium".

Postscript

As for me, I proposed to the special representative of EU not to speak about lack of civilization of the Pridnestrovians, because the measure of civilization, and of the guarantee of its safety in future, here and in the EU is very different. In my opinion, security of the citizens in Pridnestrovie is on a higher level then in most states of the EU, especially then in the European capitals. You can walk in the street of any Pridnestrovian city at any time of a day, nobody steals satellite discs, like in Iran, for example; people study different languages and nobody is threatened; gypsies' rights are broken in Hungary, for example, which is the Motherland of the special representative, and in the whole Eastern Europe. There is probability that Eastern Europe won't be Europe in about 20 years because of demographical reasons.

Pridnestrovians don't need Tiraspol to be like Brussels, just because European bureaucrats who live in prestigious quarters of Brussels protected by the Police from hundreds thousands of hungry and unemployed people from Asia and Africa, who live at the European capitals' suburbs. Today's talk has drowned in details and several fundamental decisions for Pridnestrovian people weren't mentioned. They had been approved by the Referendum and are connected with union with Russia. The question about political prisoners in Moldova also hasn't been mentioned, I speak about Ivan Burgudji, in particular, who was brought to the court on stretchers.

Kalman Mizsei agreed with everything. These questions must excite him more then they interest any of the citizens of PMR. In more informal situation, sitting in a bar with his friends he might say after some beer that "he's fed up with the Arabians, millions of them come to Europe, bother our women, smoke hashish", "Turks and Moroccans lower labor prices", "it is dangerous to let our daughters walk in the streets", "there are thieves everywhere", "these terrible new Europeans from Baltic States and Romania" are thieves and prostitutes.

The only serious theme touched by the special representative and that wasn't heard by the NGOs' representatives was the theme of PMR Gross National Product, which can be higher and thus the level of life would grow in Pridnestrovie. But none of the representatives could explain how the growth of our GNP is connected with the integration with poor and corrupt Moldova, which is used by Oleg Voronin, the son of the president and other "officials". Kalman Mizsei's anxiety about money for transit which is "7 rubles" at the PMR border is beyond logic – European visa costs 48 Euros, and Moldovan citizen who is really poor will have to pay about 4000 Euros for such a visa, because of the bribes to different Chisinau Euro-swindlers. Speaking about Moldova and transit money, damage which was made by Moldovan soldiers at the Pridnestrovian territory at the beginning of 1990s can't be covered by such small duties.

In the lobby, after the meeting, Louis O'Neill assured me that they look after Ivan Burgudji and that he really has serious health problems. In my turn, I proposed to the head of the OSCE Mission to help in liberation of Burgudji, and in moving forward the case in European Court for Human Rights "Ivan Burgudji against the Republic of Moldova", which has disappeared in the walls of Eurocabinets. Of course, moving forward of such cases and decisions has a political character. Knowing eurobureaucracy and its strange love to Moldovan Authorities, it is reasonable to have an opinion that this case will disappear in some corner. Louis O'Neill promised to do everything he can. We hope it is true.

A generation of people who are far from "Bessarabian civilization" has already grown up in Pridnestrovie. Despite many problems in our Republic, this bad neighbourhood brings no positive prospects. Pridnestrovians had to get used to having this "Honduras" near, which always troubles: either they want to teach us a language, or wants to get Pridnestrovie's property, or starts counting somebody's money.

Moldova is becoming more and more like an ex-wife, who comes again and again with an intension to live together. This situation is really like an anecdote. Sooner or later, I assure you, they will be fed up with it. I even can imagine the situation. As soon as the last citizen of Bessarabia gets a Romanian passport, all these useless talks about civilization will stop; and the special representative of the EU together with his colleagues – Europeans will be surprised when this "Honduras" with its thieves and prostitutes will be at their door. Somewhere not far from the center of Brussels, Berlin, Amsterdam and so on…

It will be a lucky moment to renew discussion about multiculture, European identity and their civilized living in the New Europe. The main thing for Pridnestrovians will be to think about strengthening customs control.

Pridnestrovie has its own way to Europe, which is different from Eastern European neighbours – through civil society where European values – freedom, respect, non-violence and Christian moral will be saved even if Europe will be at the point of absolute destruction by not "civilized" majority which has nothing to do with religious tolerance. It can also disappear at the moment of celebrating another American doctrine when for the sake of security of the state it is possible to forget about principles of respect to private life.

Thus it may happen that real Europe will be saved only here, in Pridnestrovie. Who knows, maybe Kalman Mizsei's and his colleagues' descendants will find our little republic the only safe place to celebrate Christmas Eve. Really, it is much more important not only to know European values, but to protect them. European Union's prospects in this question in comparison with Pridnestrovie could be better.

Roman Konoplev

Clause is taken from a site PMR News (http://tiras.ru)

http://tiras.ru/en/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1182199911&archive=

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Moldavian Panopticum

2007-05-28T14:38:00.000+03:00

Moldova is persistent in building state ideology by European curves, in accordance with which one of the components is nationalism. Moreover, its moderation or radicalism is defined not by the mood of the crowd of this or that moment but by logic of action of state machine.

Moldovan elites course for building a nationalistic state of Baltic type which had been started in 1980s, with the help of western specialists, crashed in the minds of most of the citizens in the 1990s. Nationalistic propaganda in the streets and squares of Chisinau prepared Bessarabians for power variant of solving problems of rebellious enclaves Gagauzia and Pridnestrovie. But results for the ideologists of Great Romania appeared to be pitiable, and nationalistic idea was thrown far back thanks to unsuccessful military campaign against separatist regions.

The second reason was departure of half of the Bessarabias population to Russia and Europe for earning money. Neither Authorities repressive measures against tourist agencies nor cultivation of love to Motherland through hatred to Russia and everything connected with Russia could prevent Moldavians.

Even today Moldovas Authorities need nationalists more than these nationalists need power. During last years leaders of national-radicals from the streets were screwing into the elite. Yurie Roshka, nationalist of European type, who began his political career from radical political calls sitting on the tree in the center of Chisinau with megaphone, today is considered to be an alternative to the ruling communists headed by Vladimir Voronin and ideologist Mark Tkachuk. Actually it is not the merit of the nationalists. Their public support is less than strive of Western Moldovas curators to make Latvia-Estonia analogue out of the country. Even though youth and middle-age people make up their minds towards West (thanks to their links with relatives who work in the West), there are no anti-Russian moods here, because half of the relatives in any Moldavian family works in Russia.

Moldova will always need nationalism as uniting factor, otherwise the rests of the state will disappear in the surrounding varieties. There is another question, how such a situation responses interests of the nearest states, especially Russia and the Ukraine. Russians and Ukrainians of one of the poorest regions of Eastern Europe Bessarabia, suffer from the policy of ethno-cultural genocide like Russian-speaking people of Baltic States suffer. Both here and there authorities try to make heroes from people who have ever fought with slavs. In Baltic States we speak about heroes of World War II and there are not so many new examples, but Moldova uses every chance. There lots of examples of resistance to Russian occupation.

At the beginning of June the last two prisoners of the terrorist group Buzhor (Peony) Andrey Ivancok and Tudor Petrov will be freed after 15 years in Pridnestrovian prison. Both of them, headed by todays Romanian senator Ilie Ilasku, took active part in terrorist groups activity at the territory of pro-Russian enclave PMR. Ilasku was freed on May 5 2001 as a sign of kind will of president Voronin, who declared course on strengthening good relationships with Russia at the beginning of his ruling.

Terrorist Ilasku was released from prison thanks to the pressure of Russias authorities. In Tiraspol prison killers of peaceful Pridnestrovian citizens has always felt comfortably. The fact of Ilasku been elected the deputy of the Romanian Parliament in 2000 is unprecedented. In accordance with certain data, ex-terrorist voted by notes from Tiraspol prison, and he seriously influenced the situation in several political fights on internal Romanian scene.

At the same time one should remember that on April 30 1992 Ilaskus group shot from fire-arms into service car where Nikolay Ostapenko, the deputy of PMR Supreme Council, the chairman of Executive Committee of Slobozea Council of Peoples deputies was. Ostapenko was killed, the driver was seriously wounded. On May 8 1992 Ilasku group captured, shot and burnt in his own car the chief of headquarters of the home guard - Alexander Gusar. The group attempted to kill Gusars family and Yuriy Savenko, deputy procurator of Slobodzea region. Group planned other murders and diversions explosions of transport, buildings where PMR authoritative bodies were situated.

Despite evidence of the accusations, massive demonstrative base, existence of alive witnesses and case materials, heart-breaking materials to protect terrorists of Buzhor (Peony) group have been published in Western Press for many years. European human rights Court made Russia pay the victims about million dollars on the ground that military men from Russian Army took part in arresting the saboteurs of Buzhor (Peony) group.

However today its necessary to pay attention at several rights consequences for Ivancok and Petrov. Its necessary to remind that the leader of the terrorists Ilasku was freed and transferred personally to Voronin and was made a national hero of Moldova.

In accordance with Moldovas legislation, head of the terrorist group, despite the protection of the Ministry of national security (today - Information and Security Service), made a number of serious penal acts, which werent well investigated. Its amazing because if one pays attention at the fact that Nikolay OStapenko was a deputy of Moldovas Parliament (from Pridnestrovie), its hard to imagine today murder of any Moldovan parliamentarian which wasnt well investigated, especially taking in consideration not-legitimacy of Pridnestrovian Authority Institutions in minds of world community and Moldova.

After been released, Ilasku called Romanian president straight from Voronins cabinet. Afterwards he went there with numerous bodyguards who were sent with him by president Voronin. Meanwhile Voronin was under pressure of Bessarabian civil society represented by ultra-radical Yurie Roshka and his street crowds made of several thousands supporters of anti-Russian Moldovas vector. At those times Russia presidents portraits were burnt regularly before the eyes of journalists, policemen and special services. Deliberately pro-Russian Voronin must have been frightened because he felt himself in his new role less confidently than Ilasku in his role.

There are lots of precedents in worlds practice when after prison somewhere in Europe the criminal had to be punished, even more seriously, again in his country, Turkey for example. Taking into consideration not-legitimacy of Pridnestrovian legal proceedings, Chisinau didnt open any cases on Ostapenko and Gusars murders. There is a fact of murder. Witnesses are alive. There are more than enough documents. There is no case.

After liberation and return to Molova, both terrorists - Ivancok and Petrov have to be interrogated together with Ilasku and Uritu Helsinkis legal expert. Shtefan Uritu, one of the activists of group Buzhor, who took part in organizing terrorist acts and diversions 15 years ago, today is the leading specialist in legal proceedings activities ex-terrorist is the head of Helsinki Committee of human rights in Moldova. Moldovan Law enforcement bodies have never had a wish to interrogate Uritu.

Moldovan Authorities today need fresh heroes to cultivate patriotism and national identity. Terrorist of the group Buzhor play the role of the sacred cow of Bessarabian patriotism. Young generation has been brought up on the heroic deeds of the heroes of war with separatism for 15 years in Moldova. The participants of war operations from Chisinau have a special protection of Moldovas Authorities. One should also take into account the fact that 10 collaborators of PMR Ministry of State Security are wanted in Moldovas Law enforcement bodies, some of them are in Interpol search.

Thus todays Moldovan elite proposes a new form of nationalism to Bessarabian society. In 1980s it was the idea of Great Romania and today Moldovas Authorities which tasted what power is, promote ideas which have nothing to do with common Romanian motherland. New Moldova needs new Moldovan nationalism, not Romanian. Anti-slav and anti-Russian accents are more distinct in new nationalism. Chisinaus authorities supported by western partners continue making heroes from the murders of Russian-speaking people. Only time will show how such a practice will serve to regulation of Moldo-Pridnestrovian conflict and to normalizing relationships with Russia.

Roman Konoplev, www.Rosbalt.ru

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My Biography

2007-04-02T23:42:00.000+03:00

Roman Konoplev (Russian: Роман Евгеньевич Коноплев), Russian rock-bard, publicist, political and public figure.

Roman Konoplev was born on 4 September 1973 in Bryansk Oblast, Soviet Union (now in the Russian Federation). In 1978 Roman and his parents (father – Konoplev Yevgeny Nikolayevich, mother – Konopleva Lyubov Mikhailovna (Tsigankova before the marriage)) moved to the town of Dnestrovsc, Moldavian SSR.

In the October of 1992 he moved to Moscow and graduated from International Institute of Economics and Right – “political science” branch of juridical faculty (1993-1996).

On 9 May 1993 Roman Konoplev became member of Public-Political movement “Rossi” (leader – Yevgeny Biryukov) – organization wich was part of National-Bolshevik front – the block of radical organizations of both left and right directions (leader – Eduard Limonov). He took part in opposition processions when being member of the movement “Rossi”. On 24 September 1993 Roman joined the defenders of the House of Councils who formed Militia commandant’s platoon of the Russian Supreme Concil. He left the House of Councils together with other defenders on the day of attack on 4 October 1993 at 5 p.m.

From the spring of 1997 till the summer of 1999 Roman gives concerts as rock-bard. In 1998 he initiated creation of Bryansk department of National Bolshevik Party(NBP). The organisation was mostly represented by students of Bryansk State Techinical University and by representatives of rock-community of the city. On 1 May 1998 the first action was brought to life – youth procession dedicated to the 1st of May holiday. During the electoral campaigne of Bryansk head of Administration in the December of 2000, Bryansk department of NBP privately supported the candidate of Communist Party of the Russian Federation. Roman Konoplev was arrested by the police for many times for popularizing his own newspaper "Ultra.Info.Bryansk".

In spring of 2001 Roman Konoplev was promoted and included to NBP Central Committee by Anatoly Tishin, working as the leader of NBP. From february till April 2002 he was one of the leaders of electoral headquarters and Eduard Limonov’s (Limonov – leader of the Party – was in prison at that time) authorized representative at the additional elections to State Duma of Russian Federation at Dzerjinsky constituency of Nizhny Novgorod area.

In summer 2002 Roman leaves for Transnistria. He takes part in organizing and conducting international forum “We - Russia” in Tiraspol. He is the organizer of NBP mass meeting near Moldovan Embassy in Moscow to support Transnistria(Pridnesrtovie). He is published as the expert in the problems of Transnistrian conflict.

In November 2002 he left his Party activities after the conflict with ledarship. In summer 2004 Roman was excluded fom NBP by Limonov for “anti-Party activities”.

In spring of 2003 he graduated from Bryansk State Technical University.

Roman Konoplev wrote a book of private and political memoirs “Gospel from Extremist” in February of 2004. The book was published thanks to Avrom Shmulevich’s financial and informational support. The book is prohibited for sale by the Russian authorities.

In July, 2004 Roman Konoplev took part in the creation of non-governmental news-agency “Lenta PMR”, the 1st in the history of Transnistria. He appears on the pages of Moldovan governmental Media where he is called “Transnistrian Goebbels”, “ideologist of Transnistrian separatism”.

Roman travels in Scandinavia from February till September, 2006. Sketches “Norwegian papers” were first published in Russia. They were later many times republished by several foreign editions.

On 17 September 2006 on the day of Referendum for Independence of Transnistria and union with Russia Roman Konoplev returns to Tiraspol. He becomes the initiator of the procession Russian March in Tiraspol on 4 November 2006.

Roman Konoplev is the chief of News-agency Lenta PMR editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Russian Breakthrough” (“Russky Proriv”), co-author of the Manifesto of Breakthrough , organizer and participant of numerous political actions in support of international recognition of Transnistria.

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Roman Konoplev: Let us work out forms of civilized relations

2007-03-04T23:55:00.001+02:00

Roman Konoplev, Tiraspol-based journalist, analyzes the future of his country and its relations with Moldova

TIRASPOL (Regnum) - After nearly a year of living in Sweden and Norway, political journalist and author Roman Konoplev returned to Tiraspol on the eve of the 17 September independence referendum, ready to report on the developments in the new country's quest for internationally recognized independent statehood and the efforts of neighboring Moldova to prevent that from happening.

" - All the sides should seek a compromise," urges Konoplev. "All the sides will have to change their behavior. We will have to work out forms of civilized relations," says Konoplev, adding that being a neighbor to the European Union could have a healthy effect on Pridnestrovie, also known as Transdnestr.

In this interview with Regnum News Agency, Konoplev gives us his take on best way forward for the country which he calls home. He sees a democratic future ahead, with less conflict and less corruption, and explains that the people living in the region want elementary things: They all just want to live well. Sooner or later, all the sides will have to accept the wish of their people to compromise.

The parties to the Transdnestr peace process – Transdnestr, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, the OSCE, the US and the EU – recently had meetings in Odessa. What do you think about their results?

In reality, these were pre-consultations for resuming the talks between Moldova and Transdnestr. The sides met with their "seconds" but not with each other. So, it means there were no talks. All that is happening between the conflicting sides is important. Moldova is warring with Transdnestr with ultra-modern arms at all fronts – in economy, politics and information. True, there are no military actions, but Moldova is causing a huge damage to Transdnestr's economy, and peaceful Transdnestr residents are suffering from it. The fact of blockade is evident. Moldova and its partners from the anti-Transdnestr coalition are making active economic and foreign political efforts to destroy our republic.

A so-called monitoring group is deployed along the Ukrainian-Transdnestr border. In this light, all these "meetings" in Odessa look like elementary propaganda tricks, an attempt to "crush" the disobedient, to make the Trandnestrians bow. The Moldovan leaders might as well continue meeting with their allies in Chisinau — without organizing this propaganda extravaganza in Odessa and making a barn-burner of it.

Moldova has some "national interests" formed by its present leaders and having no single common ground with the interests of the Transdnestr people. Their goal is to destroy our republic. Today, Transdnestr and Moldova have absolutely no cooperation even in the least political spheres, like basic law enforcement. This means that a murderer, rapist or pimp can hide from Transdnestr justice simply by going to Moldova.

The change of host countries and cities for this kind of a "consultation" charade will change nothing. The key negotiator from the Moldovan side, Reintegration Minister Vasili Sova has been and is against Transdnestr. His work is to give lessons of hatred for Transdnestr. Meanwhile, Moldova is changing. Moldova is disappearing. Every day tens of thousands of Moldovans obtain Romanian passports. The press in both Romania and Moldova is actively discussing Bessarabia's reunification with its motherland, Romania. Today, the only stumbling stone is the administration of President Voronin. There can be no talks, in principle – Moldova is not an adequate party in the negotiating process. In fact, it is just a fragment of the broken "post-Moldovan space," and Transdnestr is also a fragment of it. The present Chisinau administration is reaching for Transdnestr exclusively for economic reasons. Reunification with Romania will cost a fortune, so what the anti-Transdnestr bloc wants is to get control of our industry. Without it, Bessarabia will be too big a burden for Romania.

Settlement plans are discussed separately with Moldova and Transdnestr. How effective is this form of negotiating process?

This is not a negotiating process. The Moldovan side does not need any negotiations. Such consultations do not require the presence of the real conflicting parties in one and the same place. They might as well be held separately in Chisinau and Tiraspol. It is like the proverb says: "The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on." That is, the sides consult for years separately with Transdnestr and Moldova, but when there is no understanding on such obvious positions as the economic blockade of Transdnestr, when there is an evident attempt at physical annihilation of our state, any deeper discussion has no prospect.

Whatever the sides discuss, their basic positions will remain unchanged. Sova's position is quite tough – in his eyes, there is no such state as Transdnestr. His speeches serve the interests of the Moldovan president and the business of his family. They need the Transdnestr property. They need no talks with the legitimately elected authorities of Transdnestr.

You have said that Moldova is moving towards joining Romania. Can Moldova's geo-policy change if its leadership is changed?

Very soon, more than 50% of Moldovans will have Romanian citizenship. This alone is an absolutely inevitable factor that will determine the country's future for many decades ahead. Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin is well aware of it and is trying to use various administrative measures to prevent emigration. If the Voronin clan continues resisting Moldova's integration with Romania, Moldova may be punished. The people of Moldova, ethnic Romanians, want to live in peace with Europe, to go to work to Europe and to send their children to study there: nobody wants to live in a feudal country. That's why I am sure that Moldova's future belongs to unionist, pro-European forces and democratic politicians, irrespective of their relations with Russia. Just like here, people want to have a worthy life, they want to work. They don't need Voronin's yoke. They are tired of corruption. Besides, many of them have relatives in the rest of Europe: they visit them and see with their own eyes the difference in living standard and human rights protection. And they treat Voronin appropriately. Voronin is a politician of the past, his time has come and gone.

Why was Ukraine so anxious to organize these consultations and was, in fact, the initiator of their conduct in Odessa?

Ukraine has lost the initiative in the Transdnestr peace process. In the last one to two years, Ukraine wasted the political trumps that the Yushchenko administration could have enjoyed if they had just neutrally supported the talks. Unfortunately, they chose a different policy – in one instance, the Ukrainian leadership even renounced their own national interests, the interests of the Ukrainian society and business.

Perhaps, today Ukraine's involvement in the process is becoming topical because Yushchenko needs new trumps in his fight with the internal political opponents. Yushchenko has serious problems with his popularity rating. All that is left from his initiatives is the recollections of some "Yushchenko plan" — everybody has long forgotten what it was about, but many remember that it recognized the Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica as an standalone entity. The rest is not important. Perhaps, Ukraine will some day again be able to bring something to the table. We in Tiraspol still hope for a sense of real-politik from Kiev.

After the consultations Ukraine's special representative for the Transdnestr conflict Andrey Veselovsky said he was not authorized to make Ukraine's position known before his late Oct visit to Moscow. And immediately news agencies quoted EU High Representative for Common External and Security Policy Javier Solana as saying that Ukraine's position on the Transdnestr peace process will be a test of the country's ability to integrate with Europe…

Lack of position is also a position. And Transdnestr has noted Ukraine's position. Transdnestr also has partners. Russia will certainly use its levers to influence Ukraine as a GUAM member and, likewise, to exert economic and political pressure on Moldova so as to make things easier for the Transdniestrians. In fact, a bit of clearheaded guidance by Russia is Ukraine's only hope against the suicidal course followed by Chisinau.

During the last meeting of the GUAM Parliamentary Assembly, Moldova – just like the other member states – refused to support Georgia in its conflict with Russia. Why did it do it?

I think that, just maybe, some in the Moldovan elite are returning to its initial state, i.e. to the state of a person having, at least, some basic common sense out of necessity. All of Moldova knows what is going on in their wine making industry and agriculture – nobody needs their exports anymore. They all know what is happening to their financial system, with their population – the emigration.

Experts say that the new customs regime on the Ukrainian-Transdnestr border, which has led to the economic blockade of Transdnestr, was the result of the involvement of the US and EU in the Transdnestr peace process. What do you think about the role of the US, EU and OSCE in the negotiating process?

Even if the US, EU and OSCE were not in the process, and the talks were held exclusively between Moldova and Transdnestr, the Moldovan leaders would, nevertheless, consult the US, EU and OSCE without asking for anybody's permission. Their formal involvement is just an ordinary psychological pressure, and we should pay no special attention to it. Now that Europe itself is facing some quite unpleasant events, this "holier-than-thou" morality play and finger-wagging begins to look a bit over the top.

Some Russian political experts say that, unless Transdnestr consults Ukraine's interests, it has absolutely no political chances. How important is Ukraine's opinion really, if there is a clear position of Russia?

All the sides should seek a compromise. What we see today is a war, and Transdnestr is a party to this war. Sooner or later, all the sides will have to change their behavior – sooner or later, somebody will put an end to this war. It doesn't matter how much time it will take Chisinau to get wiser and to solve all problems. We will have to work out forms of civilized relations even if, one day, we find out that we are neighbor to EU states. There is nothing bad in that, after all – this may have quite a healthy effect on Transdnestr. Perhaps, Ukraine will also get closer to Europe. Perhaps, they will reduce their corruption, particularly, in the customs service and the interior ministry.

All the sides, all the people living in the region want some basic things – to cross borders without problems with customs officers – without being robbed by them. If the only way to this end is Ukraine's cooperation with Europe — why not? Transdnestrians, Moldovans, Ukrainians, Romanians, they all want to live well. To cross the border without standing in queues for hours. Sooner or later, all the sides will have to accept the wish of their people to come to a compromise. Transdnestr will be internationally recognized and will probably have a democratic Romania developing next to it. A Romania without chauvinists, mafia and avengers for the defeat in the 1992 war over Transdnestr.

Published on Tiraspol Times & Weekly Review (http://tiraspoltimes.com/)
By Times staff
Created 9 Nov 2006 - 5:07am

Source URL:
http://tiraspoltimes.com/interviews/roman_konoplev_we_will_have_to_work_out_forms_of_civilized_relations.html

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