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“We will always be with Russia” – Trandsnistrian president
Published: 03 September, 2010, 01:22
Edited: 05 September, 2010, 04:16
TAGS: Breakaway regions, Conflict, Russia, Europe, Human rights, History
Igor Smirnov, the president of Transdnistria, explained to RT who was behind the decision to break away from Moldova and how life's changed ever since.
“It wasn't me who made the decision [to separate from Moldova],” the president said. “The decision was made by the new form of government, by deputies of all levels – that is, by deputies at town, regional, and federal levels. It was at a time when we basically fell out of the state that was falling apart – I mean the Soviet Union – and the nationalist movements were on the rise and meeting no response either from the Soviet government or the Communist party. It was basically a matter of our survival.”
He also said that the decision was unanimous, as well as the decision to enshrine the fundamental principles in a constitution.
Those principles, he stated, are “three official languages, and a ban on any party whose platform implies superiority of any nation over any other – these things were pre-defined back then. They say that they are building democracy today, while we had it back then. We must take into account the facts of life – if the people made a decision, it must be so. And this way we'll achieve piece and harmony everywhere, including Europe, and all of the world.”
“We put an end to genocide and oppression of the Russian-speaking population here, in Moldova – not entirely, but definitely we stopped it from developing further,” Smirnov stated. “[The voters] at least started to be appealed to, especially before general elections, that's today's manner – either to buy your votes or appeal to the voters.”
Speaking on everyday life in Transdnistria, Smirnov said that of course they live in difficult circumstances, but all is relative.
“There's no way I'll say we are having a wonderful life here,” he claimed. “Try it out for yourself, living here, when you get a blockade every year and our natural right for trading is oppressed and thus cannot develop freely, when you get your bank accounts shut off, and charges laid against you that you're smuggling weapons – thank God, they've worked for 3 years now, for 4 years now in Ukraine – and they've confirmed that there is no ‘black hole’ here, nothing is smuggled, there is no traffic, and it's a normal border operated by normal people, and normal people live here.”
During the interview Smirnov also rejected accusations about crime skyrocketing in the region and gave his view on people’s death during the secession and relations with Russia.
“You can say we’re small if there’s a big country that wants to swallow us,” he claimed. “But they can’t swallow Russia. And we will always be with Russia. Why do you think we will be on our own? We trade with Russia, we trade with Ukraine, and we have seven to 10 other countries that we have economic ties with.”
“We will never bow to Moldova’s demands and become a discriminated part of Moldova,” the president concluded.
02.09.2010, 18:57
6 comments
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Again the propagandistic machine of imperial Russia in action :). The international community will never recognize the ambition of imperialist Russia. The world will wait 100 years for a muslim civilized Russia and at that moment Trandsniester will go back to Moldavia.
I like the Trandniester President Igor Smirnov because he does what is right for his people, there is so much in common with Russia with Trandniester, the culture are indeed similar an many ways and since they gained their own De-Facto Independence (I most certainly recognise Transdniester) 20 years ago they have proved that they are peaceful and can survive, but as they do get Russian financial aid Transdniester will fully recover and hopefully one day the landlocked country will have all of it's embargo lifted from international countries. Their product that they produce such as bread and fruit is made for the people of Trasdniester but their main goal is to internationally export their goods, but the international community still thinks Transdniester does still smuggle arms so this is why Transdniester cannot make a great fortune for their food and other means of consumption. The guns and war are now silent and have been for 20 years so I think it is time for the international community to recognise this and life any sanctions that they have over Transdniester. Then finally they can prove just like Abkahzia and South Ossetia have done since their independence become a shining light of progress and sovereignty. Good luck Transdniester and may you thrive in peace and prosperity for all.
Sooner or latter Trandniester will become a independend (in my opinion) state...This will happend in future. As long as the Russia support you, (and this support will never-ever stop ) you will be just fine. Try to organise your lifes in the midtimes-thats all....All the best.Thanke you.