The idea of Transnistria joining Russia acts contrary even to Russia’s standpoint – Hill

The idea of Transnistria joining Russia runs counter even to the standpoint of Russia regarding the future of the region, declared the head of the OSCE mission to the Republic of Moldova at a press conference, referring to the last evolutions in the settlement process of the Transnistrian dispute. As for the initiative of the NGOs from the region to organize a referendum that would determine the direction of the region – to be independent or to join Russia, Hill mentioned that previously in Transnistria 6 similar referendums had been organized that were not recognized internationally and a new plebiscite will have the same destiny. The head of the mission characterized as impressive the results of the UE Moldovan-Ukrainian border assistance mission, saying that by its activity the situation on the border became more transparent. In this context the OSCE official declared that the UE assistance reduced considerably the smuggling on the Transnistrian segment. According to Hill, criminal organizations from Transnistria imported in one month an amount of meet which equals to an annual consume of over 60 kg per each inhabitant of the Transnistrian region. Referring to the situation in the region after introducing a new customs regime at the Moldovan-Ukrainian border, William Hill said there are no impediments for the well-functioning of the Transnistrian enterprises and the registration system is conform more or less to the declarations of Chisinau. Regarding the situation in Dortcaia village, Hill told that there was settled an agreement between the local authorities which allows the peasants to work their fields. The quoted source told that the agreement must work until 2009 and that he hopes the situation will be settled down and for all until then. The UE border assistance mission was launched on 1 December 2005.