Trans-Dniester & Moldova.

[TsarSamuil]

Center-left coalition comes to power in Moldova says Communist leader Voronin.



Moldovan Communists and Democrats have created a center-left parliamentary majority of 57 votes to elect the parliament's governing bodies and the country's government, Moldovan Communist leader Vladimir Voronin said on Sunday.

The coalition was formed after consultations between Voronin and Democratic Party leader Marian Lupu.

The center-left coalition just lacks four mandates to elect the country's president and end a stalemate that has left the impoverished ex-Soviet republic without a full-time president since mid-2009. Both Voronin and Lupu, however, have stated on many occasions that this issue could be resolved.

Moldova's Communist Party led early parliamentary elections held in the ex-Soviet republic on November 28 with 39.3%, followed by three parties from the ruling coalition: the Liberal Democrats with 29.4%, the Democrats 12.7% and the Liberals 10%, preliminary election results suggested.

Moldovan acting president Mihai Ghimpu announced the dissolution of parliament on September 28. The move was in line with the Constitutional Court's September 21 ruling, which said that a failure to elect a president in two subsequent elections provided sufficient grounds for the dissolution of parliament.

Under the current law, the head of state is elected by parliament, but in its present makeup none of the candidates can garner the required number of votes.

The impoverished former Soviet republic has been divided between the Communists, who had dominated the political scene for most of the decade, and the ruling coalition of four parties who seek closer ties with the European Union.

The political crisis in Moldova, which has been without a full-fledged president for more than a year and a half, deepened after the September 5 referendum on whether the head of the state should be elected by a direct popular vote. It was declared invalid due to a low turnout.

CHISINAU, December 5 (RIA Novosti)

[TsarSamuil]

Moldovan parliament votes in new cabinet, prime minister.

Moldova's parliament on Friday approved the country's cabinet of ministers and confirmed Liberal-Democratic Party leader Vladimir Filat as prime minister.

Filat, 41, has been Moldova's head of government for the past one and a half years.

The previous government tendered its resignation following the election of a new parliament on November 28.

The Liberal-Democratic Party placed second with 32 seats, after the Communist Party that secured 42.

On December 30 parliamentary speaker Marian Lupu was appointed acting president of the former Soviet republic.

He said a center-right coalition comprised of the Democratic Party, the Liberal Party and the Liberal Democratic Party would be formed. Lupu, 44, is also expected to run for the presidency. However, the center-right coalition, which has a total of 59 votes, lacks the two extra votes necessary to elect a president.

A parliamentary majority of 61 votes is needed to elect the country's president and end the stalemate that has left the impoverished ex-Soviet republic without a full-time president since mid-2009.

CHISINAU, January 14 (RIA Novosti)

[Влад]

I don't understand purpose for nations/states (or whatever they would be correctly called) like Transdniester. The quintessential purpose of it forming as a seperate region is technically complex but simply is due to the people residing there wanting to maintain a Russian-centric culture, identity, etc. All of this is modern day "politics", chaos and idiocy. The region SHOULD be simply annexed as another province of Russia with southern and eastern Ukraina. The people would be satisfied and unnecessary political circus would end... While solving modern problems, dissolve "Moldova" entirely and give all of remaining territory to Romania.

[vjacheslav]

New Wanga ;D?
Well, dreams are not harmful

[TsarSamuil]

Ukraine pledges to support resumption of talks on Transdnestr settlement - president.

Ukraine has promised to support a resumption of talks on settlement of the Transdnestr issue, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said Monday.

Yanukovych met on Monday with the OCSE chairman, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Azubalis. Ukraine will hold the OSCE's rotating presidency in 2013.

Talks on the future of Moldova's breakaway region of Transdnestr in the "five-plus-two" format, involving Russia, Ukraine, OSCE, Moldova, Transdnestr, with the United States and the EU as observers, have been frozen since February 2006.

Following Yanukovych's election as Ukrainian President last year, Kiev's official stance has been for granting special legal status for Transdniestr as part of Moldova.

"Ukraine stands for the early resumption of negotiations on the Transnistrian conflict," the Ukrainian president's press service cited Yanukovych as saying. "We will support all efforts by our partners," he said, adding that the conflict should be settled peacefully based on international legal norms and laws.

The Russian-speaking province of Transdnestr has maintained de facto independence from Moldova since a brief war in 1992, following the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Tiraspol insists on independence, and even integration with Russia, while Chisinau says it is only willing to grant Transdnestr autonomy within Moldova. Transdnestr also insists it should be an integral part of any talks or agreements on the settlement issue.

KIEV, February 7 (RIA Novosti)

[TsarSamuil]

Breakaway Transdnestr says 'ready to talk'



The breakaway Moldovan region of Transdnestr is ready to resume talks on its status, its leader said on Wednesday.

Pro-Russian hardliners led a breakaway from Moldova in 1991. 5+2 talks involving Russia, Ukraine, the OSCE, Moldova, Transdnestr, as well as the U.S. and the EU, stalled in 2006.

"We have set out a plan to resolve the issue," Transdnestr leader Igor Smirnov said after talks with OSCE Chairman Audronius Azubalis in the region's capital, Tiraspol.

Transdnestr seeks full independence, while Moldova says it is only ready to give it autonomy.

TIRASPOL, February 9 (RIA Novosti)

[TsarSamuil]

Public Chamber seeks help for Russian activist held in Moldova.

19:38 29/06/2011
MOSCOW, June 29 (RIA Novosti)

The Russian Public Chamber called Wednesday on the Foreign Ministry in Moscow to defend the rights of a Russian writer and blogger detained earlier this month in Moldova on charges of instigating riots.

Eduard Bagirov was detained on June 16 on suspicion of organizing mass riots in Moldova on April 7, 2009, when a crowd of protesters forced their way into the parliament building and the presidential administration. A court has ruled that Bagirov should remain in custody before his trial.

The Public Chamber said in a letter that the writer "is being held in a Chisinau pretrial detention facility in conditions that do not comply with international standards."

"He is also subject to threats and pressure. We consider such treatment unacceptable," the letter reads.

The chamber called on the Foreign Ministry to "take all possible measures to defend the Russian national abroad."

In April 2009, protests initially led by the opposition after an allegedly fraudulent parliamentary election turned violent. Some 10,000 rioters, mainly students, hung Romanian flags above the presidential residence and parliament buildings. The unrest left several hundred protesters and police injured.

[TsarSamuil]

Transdnestr leader says no reunification with Moldova.

22:53 14/07/2011
TIRASPOL, July 14 (RIA Novosti)

Igor Smirnov, leader of the unrecognized republic of Transdnestr, said on Thursday it could not be reunited with Moldova.

"We are ready for talks," he said. "But I know that it will never be possible to reunite that which cannot be reunited."

New generations have grown up in the republic who know Russia as its defender, he continued.

"Don't forget that generations have also grown up in Moldova who have been taught that Romania is good and that Russia and Ukraine are bad."

He warned that the price of reunification would be "explosion, pain and funerals every day."

The Russian-speaking province of Transdnestr has maintained de facto independence from Moldova since a brief war in 1992, which erupted from a buildup of tensions following the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Tiraspol insists on independence, and even integration with Russia, while Chisinau says it is willing only to give Transdnestr autonomy within Moldova.

[CHORNYVOLK]

Russia and Romania get into fight over Hitler's 'deeds'

A major diplomatic scandal broke out between Russia and Romania. The reason for the scandal is the statements of Romanian President Traian Basescu, who virtually justified his country's participation in the war against the Soviet Union on the side of Hitler.

Basescu voiced the scandalous statements back on June 22. They were dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. On June 22, 1941, the Romanian troops along with the Germans crossed the border into the USSR and later occupied a considerable part of Moldova and Ukraine, including Odessa and Nikolaev. Bessarabia (the main part of Moldavia), Chernivtsi and Odessa regions of Ukraine were made a part of Romania, and a special administrative unit of Transnistria (Zadnestrove) was created on the rest of the occupied territory.

Romanian motivation was partially understandable: until 1940, it was composed of Bessarabia, Chernivtsi and Odessa region of modern Ukraine. The country gave the areas to the USSR under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The Soviet authorities put pressure on the Romanians, and their ally, Germany did not intervene at the moment. At the same time, Bessarabia and Bucak (south of Odessa region) were captured by the Romanians in 1918, when a civil war was ongoing on the wreckage of the Russian Empire. In Bukovina (Chernivtsi region), the majority of the population always were Ukrainians.

As for the occupation of Odessa, Mykolaiv, and parts of Kherson, Kirovohrad and Vinnytsya regions, they have never been a part of Romania (Moldova and Wallachian principalities). The same goes for Transnistria. It was a pure act of aggression on the part of the then de facto leader of Romania, Marshal Ion Antonescu, which is recognized by all agreements signed after World War Two. As the lost party, the Romanians lost all these lands.
Now, Romanian President Traian Basescu tried to turn everything upside down. Speaking on June 22 at B1TV TV channel, he acquitted Antonescu's actions 70 years ago.
Quote

"I would also give such an order. We had an ally. Under those circumstances I would have done the same,"
said Basescu, justifying the actions of the Romanian marshal.

Further, the president urged not to blame Antonescu for the deportation of local Jews and gypsies. Basescu even managed to find a "Russian trace" here. "We forget that the Romania head of state at the time (King Michael - Ed.). Antonescu was the Prime Minister. To one we pay homage and return the property, while we make the other a war criminal. Why? Just because one of them was a Russian servant? " Basescu said. Perhaps he meant that after the war Mihai renounced the throne and was awarded the Soviet Order of Victory.

Surprisingly, the reaction of Russian diplomats to such a blatant statement of the Romanian leader followed only on June 30. However, it was justifiably very tough.
Quote

"Russia is indignant with the remarks of the President of Romania. Such a statement, particularly made on the sad day of the 70th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War, during which our people have lost 27 million lives, cannot be explained either by the current political circumstances, or answers to the provocative questions of the journalists,"
said Alexander Lukashevich, the spokesman of the Russian Foreign Ministry.


Quote

"It is obvious that such a shameless bravado justifying the Nazi aggression and desecrating the memory of the millions of victims of Nazism is unacceptable and must receive an adequate assessment of the civilized Europe,"
said Lukashevich. However, no response from the civilized Europe followed. The Romanian diplomats began commenting on the reaction of the Russian colleagues, foaming at the mouth.


Quote

"We believe the vocabulary used in the statement of Russia's officials on some of President Traian Basescu's comments on historical subjects to be inappropriate,"
the Romanian diplomats stated.

Obviously, realizing that they have crossed the line, the Romanian Foreign Ministry has decided to bring down the intensity of emotions. "The Romanian Foreign Ministry is fully open to a dialogue with the Russian Foreign Ministry to resolve any kind of misunderstanding and distortion of information that led to the reaction of the Russian officials. This incident should not lead to a breach of a natural dialogue held in the framework of politeness, which is normal for bilateral relations," said Bucharest.

In the evening of June 30 Basescu took the floor again. He began speculating that the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, in which Romania was deprived of the territories occupied in 1918, was condemned by both the Russian and Romanian parliaments. "I do not understand what is so insulting, because the Soviet Union no longer exists. We have a relationship with the Russian Federation, but when it comes to a debate about the Soviet Union, this is a discussion about something that is already in the past," said the Romanian President, commenting on the scandal.

Basescu's words could have been left unnoticed if we were talking about a marginal politician from countries like Andorra or Kiribati. Yet, Romania is a rather large 22,000,000 strong country, a member of the European Union and NATO, which borders with two countries of the CIS, Ukraine and Moldova. In the coming years the base elements of missile defense will appear on its territory. Basescu is not a lone wolf. He has a powerful political protection, and Russia will not be able to just brush him off.

Speculations on the topics of history have long been an integral part of the Romanian foreign policy. Starting his presidency in 2005, Basescu openly questioned the statehood of Moldova and refused to sign an agreement on the borders with it. A year later, he referred to the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact and said: "Romania and the Romanians is the only country, the only people who remain separated in Europe after the reunification of the divided Germany. Romania remains divided into two countries." In 2007, Basescu said that he has already distributed a half million Romanian passports to the Moldovans.

The Romanian leader, shrugging off all diplomatic rules, brazenly interfered in the internal affairs of Moldova. During the memorable riots in Kishinev in April of 2009, he openly sided with the opposition, unhappy with the victory of the Communist Party in the parliamentary elections. His rational is clear: the then opposition and now the leaders of the ruling alliance openly advocate for the unification with Romania, and say that the Moldovan language should be called Romanian. Largely due to Basescu, a new election was held then, and the power in Chisinau was taken by the people who one way or another focused on Bucharest.

Striving for historical revenge, Basescu is actively engaged with Ukrainian affairs. While Yushchenko was fighting with the Russians, Romania virtually won at the International Court Ukraine's shelf Snake Island in the Black Sea, possibly rich in hydrocarbons. In Chernivtsi and Odessa regions mass distribution of Romanian passports is ongoing. According to some reports, approximately 100 thousand of those have been distributed. Today the Romanians and Ukraine are disputing a small island at the mouth of the Danube, close to Ishmael.

The Romanian president had never made such open statements in defense of the Nazi allies. However, he made countless provocative statements and actions. The distribution of Romanian passports in the neighboring regions of Ukraine, public intervention in the affairs of Moldavia and open refusal to recognize the Moldovan statehood is a challenge to the post-war Europe, the entire system of boundaries on the continent.

Creeping Romanian revenge has been ongoing, but the "civilized Europe" is silently observing the words and actions of Basescu. Russian diplomats do not always react to the statements of the official in Bucharest, or often react with a delay. However, in this case Romania threw an open challenge to Russia. This is a combination of a blow to the historical memory and contemporary politics and a public praise of the Nazi ally.

Leaving this statement without consequences is hardly a choice. The belated statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry is unlikely to be sufficient, especially because Basescu is not the only one who makes such statements.

Vadim Trukhachev
Pravda.Ru
http://english.pravd...ssia_romania-0/

[TsarSamuil]

Breakaway Transdnestr region votes in presidential election.

11:12 11/12/2011
TIRASPOL, December 11 (RIA Novosti)

Residents of Moldova's breakaway Transdnestr region vote on Sunday to elect their leader for the next five years, with incumbent President Igor Smirnov seeking a fifth presidential term.

The other candidates in the presidential election, which kicked off at 7:00 a.m. local time (3:00 a.m. GMT), include parliament speaker Anatoly Kaminski, ex-parliament speaker Yevgeny Shevchuk, Transdnestr Communist Party leader Oleg Khorzhan and leader of the Proryv (Breakthrough) movement Dmitry Soin.

Smirnov has been heading the Transdnestr Republic since 1990. In September 2011, he announced plans to seek a fifth consecutive presidential term.

A month before the presidential election in Transdnestr, Russia accused the Transdnestr leader's son of large-scale embezzlement.

According to Russian investigators, Oleg Smirnov and his associate, banker Oleg Brizitskiy, embezzled $5.2 million between 2008-2009, which Russia allocated for humanitarian aid to Transdnestr retirees.

A criminal case against Smirnov and his associate was opened in late October, but neither of the men appeared for the inquiry.

Oleg Smirnov has Russian citizenship and several apartments in Moscow, as well as a cottage in the suburbs of the Russian capital. He also owns several companies, police say.

In a surprise decision on Sunday, the Transdnestr Central Election Commission allowed the holding of exit polls during the presidential elections.

Previously, the Transdnestr electoral authority did not permit the holding of exit polls during the election.

"The Central Election Commission has allowed the local information and analytical center Sotsium to organize exit polls," commission member Pyotr Denisenko told RIA Novosti.

Sotsium welcomed the decision as "weighted and democratic," saying exit polls "will increase the level of confidence of citizens, observers and the public in the authorities."

A total of 401,993 Transdnestr eligible voters may take part in the election, according to the Central Election Commission.

More than 180 journalists, including from other countries, will be covering the event. The presidential poll will be monitored by 27 international observers.

The election preliminary results will be announced on December 12.

The Russian-speaking province of Transdnestr has maintained de facto independence from Moldova since a brief war in 1992, which erupted from a buildup of tensions following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Joint peacekeeping force of Russian, Moldovan and Transdnestr contingent has been deployed in the area.

Transdnestr seeks full independence, while Moldova says it is only prepared to allow autonomy.

[kosmopolak]

The day when the state became corrupt is when the kings started to move and expand their borders.

[spqr]

As you may know Moldova finally elected a president this week after more than 2 years of having interims. I know people here are interested about Transnistria more than Moldova, so i ask what do you think about the new president opting against the separation of Transnistria and his pro western views?

Full article on:
www.rferl.org/content/who_is_moldovas_new_president/24518350.html

It took lawmakers in Moldova more than 900 days to find a person who could muster the 61 votes (out of 101) to become the country's president.

But on March 16 their choice finally fell on 63-year-old career jurist Nicolae Timofti, the articulate, soft-spoken chairman of the Supreme Council of Magistrates who has pledged wide-ranging reform, Moldovan military neutrality, and moving the country toward European integration.

"I am convinced that Moldova has no other future than a European future," Timofti said. "We have to walk forward on the road we have chosen, toward Europe. We must integrate into European structures at all levels."

Timofti's election must now be validated by the Constitutional Court, and he must be sworn in as president within 45 days.

Born in the village of Ciutulesti, Timofti graduated from the law department of Chisinau State University in 1972 and spent two years in the Soviet Army before beginning his career as a judge in 1976. After only four years on the bench, he was appointed to the Supreme Court of the Soviet Republic of Moldavia.

After independence, he served five years on the Chisinau Appellate Court. In 2005, he was appointed to the Higher Judicial Chamber. Last year, he was named chairman of the Supreme Council of Magistrates.

Gridlock Continues

Timofti was nominated for president and backed by Moldova's ruling, pro-Western Alliance for European Integration (AIE). One of the leaders of the coalition, Liberal Party head Mihai Ghimpu, when discussing the nomination on March 12, emphasized Timofti's "progressive" credentials.

"He is a person who was with us when we started reforms in the 1990s," Ghimpu said. "He is a progressive man, and this means a lot for the Republic of Moldova."

[TsarSamuil]

He can't expect help from NATO for what he wants, and he can't go Georgia on Trans-Dniester.

[spqr]

He wants to replace the russian army there with a joint NATO-Russia peace-keeping force, but i doubt NATO will have the courage to impose itself in the negotiations.

[TsarSamuil]

Good luck trying to influence Trans-Dniester with this going on.

----------------

Bulgarians in Moldova Cry Foul, Beg Sofia for Help.

Novinite.com
Diplomacy | March 23, 2012, Friday| 237 views

The historic Bulgarian minority in Moldova has complained to the Bulgarian government and the foreign diplomats in Kishinev of "unprecedented discrimination measures" by the central authority.

The region of the town of Taraclia, which is heavily populated by ethnic Bulgarians, has asked the Bulgarian government for help after an emergency meeting of the local town councilor, the Novi Region paper announced.

The meeting was convened as the local Bulgarian community has been alarmed by measures of the new Moldavian authorities affecting their rights, terminating all state funding for the Bulgarian-populated regions, and cutting the support for Bulgarian schools and teaching Bulgarian language.

Moldova is home to one of the largest Bulgarian communities outside Bulgaria. The Bulgarian minorities in the region of Bessarabia, today in Moldova and Ukraine, formed in the 16th-19th century when people from Bulgaria proper fled atrocities in the Ottoman Turkish Empire to the safety of the region which was back then part of the Russian Empire.

The local authorities in Taraclia, the center of the Bulgarian community in Moldova, have declared their outrage by the failure of Moldova's Prime Minister Vlad Filat to keep his promises, with the central government in Kishinev being about to terminate all funding for the Bulgarian municipalities.

In their cry for help to Sofia, the Bulgarians in Moldova also made it clear that their situation has worsened tremendously after the supposedly pro-European center-right government came to power in the country in 2009.

The first alarming sign for them was the shutting down of the St. Cyril and St. Methodius Lyceum at the Taraclia State University.

Furthermore, a program the new Moldavian government adopted in the fall of 2009 excluded the Bulgarian university, the Taraclia State University, from the government priorities.

The ethnic Bulgarians in Moldova are now alarmed by Kishinev's plans to terminate completely the funding for teaching Bulgaria, and say that the central government is using budget cuts to shut down the schools in Bulgarian populated villages.

The local councilors in Taraclia have decided to quit the government optimization program to preserve the teaching of Bulgarian but this move has been fought back by the central government.

The Bulgarians say that despite PM Filat's promise to preserve the Bulgarian schools in Moldova, other government representatives have told them that "these promises cannot be kept."

As of February 27, 2012, Moldova's government has been blackmailing the government of the Taraclia region by not providing the legally required budget funds, which has now moved the local Bulgarian community to appeal to all foreign diplomats and to the Bulgarian government in Sofia asking them to pressure Kishinev to end its discrimination.

They have also asked the Bulgarian government to help fund the operations of the Bulgarian schools in the densely Bulgarian-populated areas of Moldova.


The Taraclia State University was co-founded by Bulgaria and Moldova in 2004. Languages of instruction are Bulgarian and Moldovan. Photo from panoramio.com