Separatist authorities provide pensions to Moldovans who accept 'Transnistrian nationality'

The secessionist authorities offer pensions to the residents of the villages that are within Moldova's jurisdiction, who agree to apply for 'Transnistrian nationality', the mayor of Cosnita village Alexandru Lesan told Info-Prim Neo. The men can receive pensions at the age of 60, the women with up to three children – at 55, while the women with three children and more – at 52. Ion Leahu, a member of the Moldovan delegation to the Joint Control Commission, said that the Transnistrian delegation has never recognized those villages located on the left bank of the Nistru as component parts of Moldova. They consider that this territory is occupied temporarily. “The Transnistrian militia and security ministry stepped up efforts and try to convince the people that their villages should be transferred under Transnistrian administration. They propagate this idea and set up initiative groups, which will probably try to initiate referendums at the right moment. They also spread the information that the residents of the villages that are under the constitutional authorities' control will be deprived of concessions.” Leahu considers that such a situation is extremely dangerous, including for the owners of plots of land located on the left bank of the Nistru. He said that the separatist authorities allowed access to these plots because they could not cultivate them by themselves. But now, such companies as Kvint and Evro-Agro-Lux can afford investing in this land. “They could impose another condition on the farmers – become officially part of Transnistria or you will lose the land. They now have money and could cultivate those plots. For example, Kvint has planted over 500 hectares with vine in Dubasari district. Evro-Agro-Lux has large fields of potatoes, grain and other crops. It is not excluded that rich Russian citizens would want to buy land there,” Leahu said. He added that the Transnistrian representatives consider the change of government in Chisinau as unstable political situation and say openly that no important decisions to solve the problems faced in the security zone will be taken until this government is in power. Moreover, they say that “we are two neighboring states and a solution can be identified only if this fact is accepted.” 'They do not consider Transnistria as a component part of Moldova as it is said in the Moldovan-Russian agreement of 1992. This is not the only stipulation of the agreement that the Transnistrian authorities ignore. Last week, they conducted drills at military units. Furthermore, for the first time they published pictures of firing cannons and rocket launchers in the press. They do not hide such actions anymore. The agreement of 1992 that regulates the peacekeeping operation in the security zone bans the movement of the military troops without the Joint Control Commission's consent, the creation of military institutions and the presence of military forces, except the peacekeepers, in the security zone,” Leahu said. The contracts allowing the residents of the villages that are under Moldova's jurisdiction to cultivate their plots expire on December 1, 2009. The Transnistrian authorities have already informed the administrations of these villages about the necessity of renewing them.