USA says that Transnistrian referendum is an attempt to destabilize Moldova

The USA does not recognize the referendum on independence held on September 17 in the Transnistrian region of Moldova. In a declaration of the deputy spokesman of the US State Department, Tom Casey, is said that the US welcomes similar statements rejecting the referendum by the European Union member countries, and the Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The cited source reconfirms the declaration of the international community according to which Transnistria is part of Moldova, and the efforts by the Transnistrian regime should not be recognized as an attempt to destabilize Moldova. “We encourage all parts to return to the international negotiations on Transnistria by the middle of October”, the American official specified. The United States is a firm friend of Moldova and its entire people, including those living in the Transnistrian region of the country, is also mentioned in the declaration of the representative of the U.S. State Department. Previously, the European Union launched a declaration according to which the so-called “referendum” organized in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova on September 17, violates the internationally recognized sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova and it is not allowing population’s freedom of choice. The EU reiterates the fact that it does not recognize the “referendum” and its results and calls on the mediators and observers involved in the 5+2 negotiation process to publicize declarations on this issue. Countries that will soon adhere to the Union, candidate countries, those who are in the process of association and also the potential candidates, EFTA countries, European Economic Area (EEA) member countries as well as Ukraine joined to the declaration of EU. At the same time, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht declared that OSCE does not support a unilateral referendum which calls into question the territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova. Ukraine also announced officially that it does not support the Transnistrian referendum. Until now, only the Russian Federation didn’t express its standpoint regarding the Transnistrian referendum.