Declaration of Russian State Duma was not „extremely severe” – political analyst

The Friday declaration of the Russian State Duma on situation in Transnistria, issued under pressure of foreign factors, was not „extremely severe”, political analytic Igor Munteanu stated to the radio channel Antena C on Saturday, March 11. He explained that the Russian federation is in a very vulnerable situation before the summit of the World Trade Organisation, when it still justifies itself for the gas crisis early this year and violation of human rights in its constitutional area. „Russia cannot slam the doors now, not in the case of a weak Moldova,” Munteanu noted. Also, the analyst said that the Russian Federation postpones possible tougher measures for Moldova. Speaking about introduction of the new customs regime by Ukraine, Munteanu said that we should salute the stance of Ukrainians who accepted internal sacrifices in order to reach this objective. „Ukraine, willing to join the European Union, must take into consideration some sensibilities towards the community of Ukrainians in the region and respect the little [Moldova in this case],” Munteanu underlined. As regards the meetings and protests in the Trasnsnistrian region, the analyst said that this is not something unusual; women who block up the railways have intervened in other situations as well. This scene must bring more consistence from the Chisinau and Kiev authorities, so that to fulfil their objective. We must change the situation in the field and we will be able to speak about conditions of negotiations on a status of the Transnistrian region later, Munteanu added. Ukraine allows the exportation of goods over its border with Moldova on basis of the Moldovan customs stamps only starting March 3. This decision has raised bitter reactions from administration of the separatist region. Persons from different localities held protests this week. Moscow backs the stance of the Transnistrian authorities with the State Duma adopting a declaration in which described these measures as economic blockade and demanded the restoration of the customs regime implemented before March 3. On the other hand, the international community saluted what it described as fair decision of Ukraine and noted that this is not an economic blockade on Moldova’s eastern breakaway enclave of Transnistria.