The authorities understand that the setting up of checkpoint along the Nistru River can stir things up and cause dissatisfaction, but if these checkpoints are not set up, Moldova will be doomed to obey an agenda written in Tiraspol or in Moscow, considers expert in the Transnistrian issue Eduard Tugui.
Contacted by IPN, the expert said that Moldova will sign no agreement with the EU if it does not secure its border. “We now should either implement audacious reforms that can produce results, or should follow the agenda of Tiraspol or Taracliei, which in fact is written in Moscow,” stated Eduard Tugui, referring to the situation crated in Parliament during and after the voting of a bill that envisions setting up six checkpoints along the Nistru.
The expert said that discussions can be held to consider how the placement of these checkpoints can influence the settling up of the Transnistrian dispute, but these things should be regarded from another viewpoint. Their setting up as well as the other activities carried out lately are designed to make sure that Moldova will have a safe road towards the EU. “That’s why disagreements appear in Parliament. I’m afraid that it is more than a political show. I’m afraid that these actions form part of efforts aimed at obstructing Moldova’s European course. These efforts are made in Parliament, in Tiraspol, in Taraclia and in Balti too. It seems that these efforts will continue, unfortunately,” said Eduard Tugui.
He also said that the Transnistrian administration showed how it can react, referring to the so-called legal act on its border. “The paradox is that the Transnistrian authorities say they want to be independent and to form part of the Russia-Kazakhstan-Belarus Customs Union, but in reality they advance towards us and appropriated Varnita already,” stated the expert.
According to him, the central authorities are obliged not to stop taking actions to resolve the Transnistrian dispute. Society must understand that this is a difficult political and diplomatic exercise. “Society must unite and not exert pressure on the instruments used by the government. I don’t think that a meeting of the Transnistrian leader Yevgeny Shevchuk and Prime Minister Iurie Leanca may influence something. Shevchuk is not an independent and free politician who can take macro decisions. He and others from the region transmit messages from the Kremlin,” said the expert.
On July 5, Parliament passed a bill providing for the setting up of six checkpoints along the Nistru River. This fact aroused the dissatisfaction of the Communist MPs who were close to getting into a fight.
