Transnistria, known locally as Pridnestrovie
Transnistria - or Pridnestrovie as it is called locally - is a country in South Eastern Europe. It borders Moldova and Ukraine. Like a dozen other post-communist countries, the republic declared its independence in 1990. Later, in a nationwide referendum, the inhabitants of the country voted to reaffirm Transnistria's independence and rejected efforts to join neighboring Moldova.
Historically, Transnistria was never part of Moldova. The two countries were forced into a joint nation in World War II when Hitler and Stalin redrew the borders of Europe. In the breakup of the Soviet Union, both Moldova and Transnistria withdrew from this forced and unnatural union.
Never part of an independent Moldova or Romania, for the past 16 years, Transnistria (Pridnestrovie) has been a separate nation-state. The name of the capital is Tiraspol. It is now a fully functioning democracy with free and fair elections. And it is a surprising success story which shows that small countries work better than than big ones, and that a determined people can build a better country when they all pull together behind a single-minded goal: Independence and a right to choose its own destiny.
Today, Transnistria (Pridnestrovie) is a forward-looking country with a fully self-sustainable economy. On a per-capita basis it is more industrialized than its two neighbors, Moldova and the Ukraine.
It is a slice of the new Europe. It's an independent republic with a full set of transparent, democratic government institutions: Parliament, Central Bank, Courts, its own Constitution, an Army, Police, Border Patrol, Health Service, Education System, and a Tax Collection administration. Collaborating with NGOs, the government is making advances in human rights and enviromental protection.
Democratic opposition in control of parliament
The latest election, in December 2005, was won by the opposition party 'Renewal'; defeating incumbent president Igor Smirnov's 'Respublica' party. Following the win, a new generation of reformers were swept into power with the election of Yevgeny Shevchuk as chairman and Parliamentary Speaker. Eugene, as he is known to his followers, is just 37 years old and a former bank manager. Like most of the voters in Transnistria, he too favors full independence and rejects efforts to unite the country with Moldova. If there is one thing that both government and opposition agrees upon it is that Transnistria is independent and will stay independent.
International relations
Transnistria maintains friendly relations with other countries in the area and, under the auspices of the OSCE, an active involvement in settlement talks with Moldova over its territorial claim. To integrate itself further and carry its weight as a full partner in the international community, the Pridnestrovian Ministry of Foreign Affairs works towards broader international recognition and diplomatic relations with other countries.
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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRANSNISTRIA AND PRIDNESTROVIE:
Pridnestrovie: As per our constitution, the country's official name is "Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica". This is Russian and means, literally translated, the "On-the-Dniester Moldavian Republic". But that's not how we translate it to English: Official shortform name is "Pridnestrovie". We abbreviate the country as "PMR". No other usage is official and any other names should be avoided.
Transnistria: Although "Transnistria" is the name most commonly used to describe Pridnestrovie in English, the name is wrong on two counts: It is not from our language, and it doesn't describe the territory of our country accurately. Transnistria is an artificial Romanian word from WWII. It means "beyond the River Dniester". It is an incorrect term, is not used locally and should be avoided. » More information on names, Transnistria vs Pridnestrovie |
