Ukrainian President meets the leader of Transdniestria
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Friday, 15 July 2005
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Transdniestrian peace settlement
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko met the leader of the breakaway Trans-Dniestrian Moldavian Republic Igor Smirnov yesterday. The republics leaders call the visit official? and mention top-level Ukrainian-Transdniestrian negotiations. The Ukrainian party was quickly to refute these reports claiming it received Mr. Smirnov as the head of the administration of Moldovas Transdniestrian region?. Chisinau, which has always opposed the Transdniestrian leaderships contacts with the authorities of recognized states, made it clear that this time the visit was agreed upon.
The Transdniestrian leaders visit to Kyiv was organized in a hurry. Igor Smirnovs meeting was entered on the Ukrainian presidents daily schedule list only Tuesday night. Perhaps, this is the reason why even the press service of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry was unaware of Mr. Smirnovs visit. It stated Wednesday morning that the officials visit is not planned in the foreseeable future. When Kommersant correspondent reported to the press services employees that the Transdniestrian guest was in Kyiv and had already had the time to meet President Yushchenko, they were genuinely surprised.
Tiraspol and Kyiv have different views on the visit. The press-service of the self-proclaimed republic claim that Igor Smirnov came to Ukraine on an official visit at President Viktor Yushchenkos invitation?. However, the secretariat of the Ukrainian president stated that Mr. Yushchenko had met Mr. Smirnov as head of the administration of the Transdniestrian region of Moldova?. The Transdniestrian side got offended by this wording calling it tactless. We do not have the post of the head of the administration in Transdniestria. The visit included talks of President Igor Smirnov and President Viktor Yushchenko, and the visit had an official status,? the press service of the Trans-Dniestrian Moldavian Republic told Kommersant.
Negotiation took two stages. The first round was at 9 am, the second was held in the evening. Chisinaus recent initiative on the peace settlement with Tiraspol was discussed at the meeting. Moldovas President Vladimir Voronin submitted to the parliament a bill Tuesday on principles for the entry of the breakaway Transdniestria onKommersant reported yesterday. Tiraspol was not enthusiastic about it, mainly because Transdniestria had not taken part in its drawing up. Detailed information on the content of the meetings was not disclosed but Tiraspol said that the Chisinau initiative was not the only one reason for Mr. Smirnov and Mr. Yushchenkos meeting. The presidents have discussed a number of political and economic issues and some other subjects of mutual interest,? the Interior Ministry of Transdniestria reported.
Meanwhile, Moldovas minister of re-integration Vasily Shova said Igor Smirnovs visit to Kyiv had been agreed upon with Chisinau authorities?. This is an important fact as Igor Smirnov is the leader of an unrecognized republic, and direct negotiations with him are tactless in relation to the Moldovan authorities, in terms of International Law. Chisinau usually closely watches the Transdniestrian leaders external contacts but it was composed this time. Yet it did not lose a chance to tease the breakaway republic. Tiraspol always overestimates the importance of its visit. That is why we would rather trust the wording of the Ukrainian party,? the press service of the Moldovas Interior Ministry said.
Chisinaus reserved reaction to the Kyiv visit of the self-proclaimed republics leader is accountable. Moldovan authorities want Viktor Yushchenko to explain Igor Smirnov benefits of the Moldovan-Ukrainian peace settlement plan.
by Sergey Sidorenko, Kyiv
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