FAQ, Moldova/Pridnestrovie relations
Pridnestrovie respects Moldova and recognizes its sovereignty. We trade with Moldova and want to increase our trade and bilateral relations. But they want to annex our nation and make it part of Moldova, despite the fact that historically, the two countries are separate. In 1992 they failed in an attempt to invade us. And even today, they still maintain their claim on us.
Why, after all these years, does Moldova still want Pridnestrovie?
Follow the money. Compared to Moldova, Pridnestrovie is small but wealthy. The situation is sort of like China versus Taiwan, or Iraq versus Kuwait. Pridnestrovie's infrastructure and industrial base is much more developed than Moldova's. We trade with 99 countries and our exports are hard-currency earners. If Pridnestrovie became part of Moldova, our small nation would produce 40 percent of the Moldovan national product and 90 percent of the its electricity. Moldova's enterprising politicians are keen to get their hands on Pridnestrovie's industrial base.» Read more ...
What is the basis for Moldova's claim to Pridnestrovie?
Historically, the two countries were always separate. But in World War II, Hitler and Stalin signed a secret pact dividing Europe. Stalin took Moldova (which was then part of Romania) and joined it with Pridnestrovie to form the artificial "Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic". This was never a real republic, in the sense of being an independent or sovereign nation. It was always firmly a part of the Soviet Union and all the important decisions were taken in Moscow. The MSSR was an administrative region in all but name, so independent Moldova's claim to Pridnestrovie is highly dubious.» See historical maps of Pridnestrovie, 600 B.C. - 1990
Why does Pridnestrovie not recognize itself to be part of Moldova?
Moldova itself (upon independence) renounced the secret Hitler-Stalin treaty which merged Pridnestrovie with its territory to create the MSSR. Legal scholars affirm that upon declaring the treaty null and void, Moldova also implicitly gave up any claims to Pridnestrovie acquired under the treaty. This fact notwithstanding, Moldovan politicians interpret international law differently so as to pick and choose the bits that suit them.» See full legal analysis: Pridnestrovie's sovereignty in international law
Is the conflict ethnic? Religious?
No. It was originally caused by ethnic violence and persecutions. But today it is primarily economical. Pridnestrovie's economy is not a powerhouse like Germany's or the United States. But compared to Moldova, it is certainly better off. Moldova frames the conflict in other terms, but it is really all about money. The conflict is about Moldova wanting something for nothing, against the will of the people who live here. In a referendum held in 2006 about joining Moldova, more than nine of out ten voted against joining Moldova and in favor of the status quo, the continued existence of Pridnestrovie as an independent - albeit currently unrecognized - country.» Excerpts from United Nations study
Why are negotiations deadlocked?
Because Moldova considers Pridnestrovie to be theirs. But it is not, nor has it ever been part of an independent Moldova at any time in the past. Negotiations deadlock because they are based on Moldova's ambition and expansionist claim to a territory which was simply not theirs to begin with. If negotiations turn realistic, by starting with the premise that Pridnestrovie is NOT part of Moldova, then everything else falls into place and can be easily worked out. This premise is based both on historical fact and on today's de facto reality as well.» Conflict resolution and Pridnestrovie's international relations
So what's next: How will the conflict play out?
That depends on the level of future Moldovan agression. Pridnestrovie will continue to state the facts and go about our daily business in a normal, peaceful way. Right now, Moldovan agression is mostly limited to attempts at isolating Pridnestrovie on the international scene. To do so, Moldova distorts the facts about Pridnestrovie and portrays us as some sort of lawless "black hole" engaged in WMD / slavetrade / drugdealing / name-your-scare. They also claim that we are a poor and oppressive communist dictatorship where people live in fear of the KGB and where democratic elections are never held. They have been moderately successful with this propaganda strategy because so few are aware of the real situation in Pridnestrovie.» In more detail: Black Propaganda and anti-independence misinformation
Is there a definitive solution for settling the issue permanently?
Yes. It is called democracy. Pridnestrovie has proposed an easy, simple solution for settling relations with Moldova: A referendum to let the people themselves decide the future that they want. Let it be as free, fair and transparent as absolutely possible.» See how: Referendum on independence or federation with Moldova
Are you communists?
No. For most of the past century, Pridnestrovie was under Soviet rule. Since independence in 1990, we have moved on and found freedom — but we are also not embarrassed about our ancestors. So we haven't "rewritten history" and torn down the symbols of our shared past. Today we still have people who remember communism fondly, but they are in a distinct minority. In fact, the Communist Party is not even represented in parliament with a single seat. In contrast, the two largest parties are both both in favor of democracy and a market economy with private companies. Pridnestrovie already has a chamber of commerce and a small stock exchange. We have eight banks, three of them foreign owned, and a good level of foreign investment. On a per-capita basis, foreign investment in Pridnestrovie is more than twice the level of Moldova.» A look at Pridnestrovie's free market economy
Is Moldova communist?
The current leadership in Moldova is Communist. In Moldova, the Communist Party holds a majority in Parliament and the country's president is a former Soviet-era bureaucrat who made his career in the Communist Party. He is still officially a proud Communist today and, not surprisingly, under his government Moldova officially became the poorest country in Europe. Foreign advisors alternate between calling the country a "basket case" and a "failed state". Under its current Communist rule it has acquired an extremely poor human rights record, too.» Article: "Moldova, Model to follow ... or human rights disaster?"
