“In March 1992, the young state Moldova could not put up a strong resistance to the expansionist trends that giant Russia manifested and continues to manifest. The mistake committed by the Moldovan politicians then was that they did not take into account the misinformation campaign carried out on the left bank of the river Nistru,” Stefan Uratu, consultant to the head of state on political matters and former chairman of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of Moldova, stated for Info-Prim Neo. Stefan Uratu considers that the Nistru war started for two reasons: the then political class was not prepared to offer resistance to Russia, and it did not pay attention to the appearance of the “fifth colon” (a group of people who clandestinely undermine a larger group, such as nation, from within, to the aid of an external enemy – e.n.). Speaking about the talks between Chisinau and Tiraspol set to take place today, Stefan Uratu said they are a waste of time as the negotiators on behalf of Moldova change frequently, while those representing Transnistria remain the same. “Those who come to negotiate start from a blank sheet every time. The essence of the problem is that Chisinau concedes more,” Uratu said. “Moldova should insist on the fact that the Transnistrian problem is not ethnic and is not an internal conflict. Even if the ties between the two banks become weaker owing to the artificial customs posts, the hearts of the ordinary people living there beat in unison.” On March 2, it is 18 years of the start of the armed conflict on the Nistru. 29,000 people took part in the war, 3,402 of whom representing the Ministry of the Interior. 286 persons were killed, while 289 remained disabled.