The investing of President-elect Igor Dodon will bring a new stress in the Transnistrian conflict settlement, but this accent is not decisive. In an interview for Radio Free Europe, political analyst Anatol Taranu said the rhetoric will change and Igor Dodon will make many frothy statements, but these will not have a practical support if partners are not found in Parliament and the Government, IPN reports.
“I forecast a particular change in the political rhetoric in Chisinau as regards the political settlement in Transnistria, but without this having a real influence in the process itself,” stated Anatol Taranu, noting the statements of President Igor Dodon will be used by Russia to exert a particular kind of pressure on the participants in the Transnistrian conflict settlement talks in the 5+2 format.
According to the analyst, what will happen in the Transnistrian region after the elections there will slightly influence the 5+2 format of the talks. No matter who of the seven candidates wins these elections, their obedience to Moscow is well known and particular insignificant nuances will count from this viewpoint, but the essence will remain the same.
“Tiraspol is an instrument that Russia uses to influence the Republic of Moldova, to keep Moldova in its sphere of geopolitical influence and to create the impression that there is a conflict between Chisinau and Tiraspol. The reality is different yet. Moscow created this conflict to control Moldova and does not allow it to move swiftly in the direction of European integration, said Anatol Taranu.
The historian also said that the political settlement in the Transnistrian region is closely related to the general situation in the world and the conflict cannot be taken out of the context of the relations between Russia and the West. The Transnistrian dispute could simply become a bargaining chip in a much larger geopolitical game and bargain than the conflict itself.
