Posted on 10/31/2005 2:41:33 PM PST by HAL9000
The official Chisinau is in possession of documents indicating that weapons from Transnistria were supplied to Iraq, Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin stated to Russian journalists who are paying a 5-day-long working visit to this republic on the Moldovan leadership's invitation."We have sent to Russia a file with documents on the directions of arms exports from Transnistria. According to the data available with us, 13 Transnistrian industrial enterprises manufacture armaments continuously. We have a document from the Presidential Office of Saddam Hussein's certifying that weapons from Transnistria used to be imported to Iraq. Now we are scrutinizing this", Voronin said.
Asked why he refused to sign the Kozak Memorandum in November 2003, Voronin replied that on the evening preceding the signature day, the Memorandum unexpectedly came to have one new page: "This was a new document one page large containing one item saying that we sign the document stipulating that a Russian military base is being established [in Transnistria] for a 20-year term. We stated then that if that page is left in the Memorandum, the question of signing the document is cancelled".
The Moldovan President resolutely spoke for Russia's meeting its troop withdrawal commitments, and emphasized that Moldova regards the presence of the Russian armaments in Transnistria as Moscow's backing of the Tiraspol regime.
"The Transnistria problem remains unresolved between us. But it should not be an obstacle to relations between Moldova and Russia. Our centuries-long friendship with Russia is Moldova's chief heritage, and the Transnistrian regime mustn't hamper the relations between the two countries", stated the Moldovan leader.
In his words, Chisinau stands for resolving the Transnistria conflict by using exclusively peaceful means, and is not going to organize "velvet revolutions" in Transnistria. At the same time, Vladimir Voronin confirmed his refusal to conduct negotiations with Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov and his regime.
"Smirnov's team was not simply involved in gangsterism. They have their hands steeped in blood. Peaceful settlement work should be done only by people with clean hands", stated Voronin, adding that he had ceased all talks with Smirnov yet 3 years ago.
Vladimir Voronin stated Moldova has drawn up a list of people who were in opposition to the Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov and who are now missing.
In his words, Moldova, like the entire world community, shall not recognize the approaching December elections to the Transnistrian supreme soviet [parliament], but if a new leadership comes to power in Tiraspol, negotiations on settling the situation may be resumed. In Voronin's opinion, the most suitable personality for holding negotiations with Moldova may be Yevgeny Shevchook, the Transnistrian Deputy Speaker.
This isnt that old Moldavian weapons of mass destruction ploy is it?
Didn't the Soviets claim that the Moldavians were Slavs, or at least part Slav?
I don't know about that, but I wouldn't be surprised...it would have helped them claim that the Moldovans were distinct from the Romanians. Both Romanian and Moldovan are mainly derived from Latin, but with many words acquired over the centuries from nearby languages. That part of the world has seen so many invasions over the millennia that probably every ethnic group is a mixture...so there could be DNA from Slavic ancestors among Moldovan-speaking Moldovans.
Actually, the Library of Congress Moldova, a country study states that eastern Moldavia and Bessarabia (i.e. modern Republic of Moldova) had Slavic influence from nearby Ukraine. Romanians in general have Slavic influence, but it's certainly possible, IMHO, that Moldavians have more than other Romanians.
No real idea. I read over it once and the whole of the argument between the two sides (both run by crooks) seems more focused on what the national language is going to be: Romanian or Russian.
There is a largest European weapon storehouse in Transnistria remained from Soviet era.
Thanks.
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