Former head of OSCE Mission to Moldova says Transnistria conflict could be solved while Vladimir Voronin and Igor Smirnov are in office

Even if President Vladimir Voronin and the separatist Tiraspol leader Igor Smirnov have divergent opinions, the former head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova William Hill does not exclude the possibility that the Transnistrian dispute could be solved while the two are in power, Info-Prim Neo reports. In an interview with the newspaper “Analitique”, William Hill said Voronin and Smirnov assured him that they want the conflict to be solved. The problem is that the settlement proposals put up by one of them are not accepted by the other. Vladimir Voronin speaks about a broad autonomy with broad powers, while Smirnov insists on de facto independence. Yet, the two leaders have been close to solving the conflict for many times, said William Hill. The American diplomat stressed that even if the suspension of the CFE Treaty by Russia will not directly influence the Transnistrian dispute, it will not contribute to the settlement of the conflict either. At the same time, Hill does not rule out that the way in which the Kosovo problem will be solved will serve as model for other conflict zones. According to the official, the international community has long ago formed the opinion that the right and left banks of the Nistru are parts of the same state. The authorities in Tiraspol must accept the idea that the solution will be corresponding. But the Moldovan authorities must understand that broad autonomy means not only such formalities as the flag, symbols and anthem, but also real powers. The Tiraspol administration will have to manage funds, to adopt laws. Under such circumstances, a broadly acceptable solution could be found within two years. Otherwise, the present situation would persist for a rather long time, the former head of the OSCE Mission to William Hill said.