Relations between the sides of the Nistru have worsened, Oazu Nantoi

[Info-Prim Neo article from the series “20 years of the start of the war. When should we expect peace?”] Repeat from February 10 The relations between the banks of the Nistru River have worsened and this happened mainly because the Transnistrian regime flagrantly violated the provisions of the signed documents, whereby it pledged to ensure the free movement of people and goods, said political analyst Oazu Nantoi, program director at the Public Policy Institute. “Unfortunately, the relations also worsened not because enmity increased, but because the people became estranged from each other. The Transnistrian regime for them has been a reality during over 20 years, with the official Chisinau not showing that it was preoccupied with the fate of the people living on the left side of the Nistru,” said the analyst. According to Oazu Nantoi, it is not normal for the people to be divided into those living on the right side and those living on the left side of the river. The people living on the left bank of the Nistru are mainly Moldovans. Most of those who took part on the war for defending Moldova’s territorial integrity were volunteers from Transnistria. “That totalitarian unity that Igor Smirnov tried to promote on the left side of the Nistru never existed, but regretfully he wasn’t arrested by the Moldovan police,” stated the analyst. He said that the Transnistrians who consider themselves citizens of Moldovan obtained Moldovan passports and are categorically against the region’s autonomy for the simple reason that they think this will lead to the conservation of the existing relations: the dominant Russian chauvinism, the authoritarian regime, the discrimination against the Moldovans speaking Romanian, not speaking about the other aspects. As to the common values, as for example the notion of country, they degenerated because the Transnistrian regime is much more real than Moldova for the people living in the region, despite the fact that it is not recognized by the international community. As regards the language, Oazu Nantoi considers that the Moldovans in Transnistria are subject to an ethno-cultural genocide and assimilation policy that is probably tougher than in the Soviet period. “The Romanian on the right side gradually develops roots, while on the left side Russian is dominant. The people complied and it is no use believing that they will go out when it becomes warmer and will ask Shevchuk, Lupu or Filat to build a bridge of flowers over the Nistru,” said Oazu Nantoi. According to him, the future of the eastern districts of Moldova depends exclusively on the quality of governance on the right bank of the Nistru, the viability of Moldova’s statehood, the functionality of the rule of law in Moldova, and the effectiveness of the Moldovan democracy. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, the mayor of Dubasarii Vechi village of Criuleni district Gheorghe Lungu said the relations between the villagers and the people living on the left side of the Nistru remained as good and no differentiation is made between them. “The people sail to Grigoriopol by boat. The relations are good. The ordinary people did not change. Many of them have relatives on the left bank. We would like the dispute to be resolved as soon as possible because it is painful,” said the mayor. According to Gheorghe Lungu, many people from Dubasarii Vechi go to Grigoriopol to purchase products because they are cheaper there. Attempts were made to construct a bridge between the two settlements, but they failed. The mayor of Corjova, Dubasari, Sergiu Oprea said the people on both sides of the Nistru want to live in a united country, where there are no checkpoints and through which they can travel freely. “The relations are maintained. The same values and traditions are kept. The people try to solve the common problems,” stated the mayor. The census taken by the Transnistrian authorities in 2004 showed that the region had a population of 555,000, including the municipality of Tighina. From administrative viewpoint, the region is divided into five districts: Camenca, Dubasari, Grigoriopol, Rabnitsa, Slobozia, and Tiraspol municipality. The separatist authorities do not control six villages situated eastwards the Nistru. These are: Cocieri, Molovata Noua, Corjova, Cosnita, Pirita, and Dorotcaia. But they control Bender town and the villages Gasca and Chitcani, which are located westwards the river. [Elena Nistor, Info-Prim Neo]