This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7615835.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Stirrings in Trans-Dniester | Stirrings in Trans-Dniester |
(29 minutes later) | |
By Oana Lungescu BBC News, Trans-Dniester As a top Nato delegation goes to Georgia to show Western support after Russia's military intervention, another tiny former Soviet republic with a separatist conflict is watching closely. | By Oana Lungescu BBC News, Trans-Dniester As a top Nato delegation goes to Georgia to show Western support after Russia's military intervention, another tiny former Soviet republic with a separatist conflict is watching closely. |
Posters of Russian leaders and Che Guevara adorn central Tiraspol | Posters of Russian leaders and Che Guevara adorn central Tiraspol |
Moldova, sandwiched between Nato and EU member Romania and Ukraine, which also wants to join the Western clubs, has a long-running conflict with Moscow-backed separatists in Trans-Dniester, a sliver of land on its eastern border. | Moldova, sandwiched between Nato and EU member Romania and Ukraine, which also wants to join the Western clubs, has a long-running conflict with Moscow-backed separatists in Trans-Dniester, a sliver of land on its eastern border. |
This month, Trans-Dniester marked 18 years since it declared independence with a Soviet-style military parade. For over an hour, soldiers marched in tight formation through the capital Tiraspol. | This month, Trans-Dniester marked 18 years since it declared independence with a Soviet-style military parade. For over an hour, soldiers marched in tight formation through the capital Tiraspol. |
Like Georgia's rebel regions, Trans-Dniester broke away from Moldova as the Soviet Union collapsed and one-third of its people hold Russian passports. | Like Georgia's rebel regions, Trans-Dniester broke away from Moldova as the Soviet Union collapsed and one-third of its people hold Russian passports. |
Moscow stepped in to halt a civil war in 1992, leaving behind more than 1,000 troops to keep the peace and one of the biggest arms stockpiles in Europe. | Moscow stepped in to halt a civil war in 1992, leaving behind more than 1,000 troops to keep the peace and one of the biggest arms stockpiles in Europe. |
On the way to Tiraspol, I went through a checkpoint manned by Russian soldiers with guns and a camouflaged tank. | On the way to Tiraspol, I went through a checkpoint manned by Russian soldiers with guns and a camouflaged tank. |
Loyalty to Moscow | Loyalty to Moscow |
But the leader of Trans-Dniester's parliament, Yevgeny Shevchuk, told me war was still possible. | But the leader of Trans-Dniester's parliament, Yevgeny Shevchuk, told me war was still possible. |
"I don't rule out such a development because the deep differences that led to the conflict haven't been solved," Mr Shevchuk said. | "I don't rule out such a development because the deep differences that led to the conflict haven't been solved," Mr Shevchuk said. |
Tiraspol is decorated with the flags of Georgia's breakaway regions | Tiraspol is decorated with the flags of Georgia's breakaway regions |
"The peacekeepers have proved that they won't allow such military action but at the same time we can't exclude that the conflict could once again reach a military phase." | "The peacekeepers have proved that they won't allow such military action but at the same time we can't exclude that the conflict could once again reach a military phase." |
To ease such fears, Moldova has pledged not to join Nato. | To ease such fears, Moldova has pledged not to join Nato. |
The country, where most people speak Romanian, has also offered Russian-speakers in Trans-Dniester broad autonomy. | The country, where most people speak Romanian, has also offered Russian-speakers in Trans-Dniester broad autonomy. |
But the separatists have taken heart from Moscow's recognition of Georgia's rebel regions. | But the separatists have taken heart from Moscow's recognition of Georgia's rebel regions. |
In the centre of Tiraspol, a huge billboard has gone up, showing the leaders of Trans-Dniester, South Ossetia and Abkhazia smiling next to a Russian flag and an inscription that says "Together we are strong". | In the centre of Tiraspol, a huge billboard has gone up, showing the leaders of Trans-Dniester, South Ossetia and Abkhazia smiling next to a Russian flag and an inscription that says "Together we are strong". |
Just across the road, a youth organisation proudly displays posters of Che Guevara next to those of Vladimir Putin and Dmitri Medvedev. | Just across the road, a youth organisation proudly displays posters of Che Guevara next to those of Vladimir Putin and Dmitri Medvedev. |
Russia may be 700km (435 miles) away, but its powerful presence is strongly felt in Trans-Dniester. | Russia may be 700km (435 miles) away, but its powerful presence is strongly felt in Trans-Dniester. |
For us, a local man told me under the gaze of a huge red granite statue of Lenin, "Russia is like a parent or a big brother". | For us, a local man told me under the gaze of a huge red granite statue of Lenin, "Russia is like a parent or a big brother". |
Diplomatic moves | Diplomatic moves |
The Kremlin may use Trans-Dniester to improve its tarnished reputation. | The Kremlin may use Trans-Dniester to improve its tarnished reputation. |
Having waged war on Georgia, Mr Medvedev appears willing to broker peace in Moldova. | Having waged war on Georgia, Mr Medvedev appears willing to broker peace in Moldova. |
In recent weeks, the Russian president has held separate meetings with the leaders of Moldova and Trans-Dniester and may soon host a face-to-face meeting between them. | In recent weeks, the Russian president has held separate meetings with the leaders of Moldova and Trans-Dniester and may soon host a face-to-face meeting between them. |
But Moldovan Foreign Minister Andrei Stratan insists his country will not sign any separate deal with Moscow. | But Moldovan Foreign Minister Andrei Stratan insists his country will not sign any separate deal with Moscow. |
"This problem should be settled together with Moscow, but only in an international framework," he told me. | "This problem should be settled together with Moscow, but only in an international framework," he told me. |
"We won't sign a single document that would exclude the US, the EU and our neighbour Ukraine." | "We won't sign a single document that would exclude the US, the EU and our neighbour Ukraine." |
Border concerns | Border concerns |
Europe is nervously watching its eastern border. | Europe is nervously watching its eastern border. |
The boundary line appears easy to cross unchecked | |
With Trans-Dniester in a legal limbo, hundreds of EU monitors are helping to crack down on smuggling and organised crime. | With Trans-Dniester in a legal limbo, hundreds of EU monitors are helping to crack down on smuggling and organised crime. |
Tomasz Ciukaj, a Polish customs officer, showed me how easy it was to bypass any controls on the dirt tracks and wild undergrowth that mark the boundary line between Trans-Dniester and the rest of Moldova. | Tomasz Ciukaj, a Polish customs officer, showed me how easy it was to bypass any controls on the dirt tracks and wild undergrowth that mark the boundary line between Trans-Dniester and the rest of Moldova. |
The recent seizure of 200kg (440lb) of heroin by Moldovan police, he said, "clearly indicates that Trans-Dniester can be considered as a weak point". | The recent seizure of 200kg (440lb) of heroin by Moldovan police, he said, "clearly indicates that Trans-Dniester can be considered as a weak point". |
As the poorest country in Europe, Moldova would like a clear path to EU membership. | As the poorest country in Europe, Moldova would like a clear path to EU membership. |
But that is nowhere in sight, leaving the country vulnerable to Russian pressure. | But that is nowhere in sight, leaving the country vulnerable to Russian pressure. |
Andrei Popov, the head of the Moldovan Foreign Policy Association, fears that any settlement now would be done on Moscow's terms. | Andrei Popov, the head of the Moldovan Foreign Policy Association, fears that any settlement now would be done on Moscow's terms. |
Russia, he says, "is not in a mood to give up". | Russia, he says, "is not in a mood to give up". |
"Russia is in a mood to take back," he argues. | "Russia is in a mood to take back," he argues. |
"And from this point of view, I don't see Russia giving up its old-standing policy of controlling Moldova through Trans-Dniester." | "And from this point of view, I don't see Russia giving up its old-standing policy of controlling Moldova through Trans-Dniester." |
And as long as Russia keeps its military on Europe's doorstep, the hope to regain its old sphere of influence will only grow stronger. | And as long as Russia keeps its military on Europe's doorstep, the hope to regain its old sphere of influence will only grow stronger. |