Russian Duma Backs Independence For Transdniester

RadioFreeEurope ^ | Friday, October 6, 2006

[Grzegorz 246]

October 6, 2006 -- Russia's lower house of parliament has passed a statement backing a recent referendum on independence for the breakaway Moldovan region of Transdniester.

The Duma statement said the referendum was legitimate and the international community should recognize its results.

In the September 17 referendum, more than 97 percent of voters backed independence for Transdniester, with the ultimate goal of union with Russia.

Both the United States and the EU have said they do not recognize its results.

[Grzegorz 246]

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[Zuben Elgenubi]

[Alter Kaker]

Note that the Transnistria region doesn't share a border with Russia. If it joined Russia, it would be as economically (un) viable as that glorious hellhole to its North, Kaliningrad. At some point, Moldova will merge with Romania and things may improve (somewhat).

[Post Toasties]

I hope so. I don't know anything about the politics in this case, but the idea of nations fragmenting to this extent is probably not a positive development, reminding me a bit of the old Holy Roman Empire, yet without any unifying force.

[Timedrifter]

Note that the Transnistria region doesn't share a border with Russia.

Alaska does not share a border with the lower 48 of the United States either. Countries having exclaves is nothing new in the history of Europe or the world. Most of these were eliminated in Europe after WWII but a few remain such as Gibraltar and a couple of Spanish cities in Morocco. There are still quite a few of these in Africa and Asia. Malaysia, Angola, East Timor.

[GOP_1900AD]

If this goes forward, it will give them a forward deployed enclave in S Europe to complement the one they already have in N Europe (Kaliningrad). I wonder if they would pack it to the gills with tactical nukes the way they have done in Kaliningrad?

[Alter Kaker]

Enclaves are not necessarily new, but there still seems little chance of Transnistria ever being economically viable, especially if it's surrounded by a hostile Moldova and a hostile Ukraine. Kalingrad even has a seacoat (Transnistria is landlocked) and it's horribly depressed.

[monday]

" I don't know anything about the politics in this case, but the idea of nations fragmenting to this extent is probably not a positive development, reminding me a bit of the old Holy Roman Empire, yet without any unifying force."

In the post industrial world, smaller is usually better. When was the last time you heard of a small country like Monaco, or Lichtenstein, or San Marino declaring war on it's neighbor? These are not economically depressed areas either. Small principalities like these and Hong Kong, Singapore, Luxembourg, and Bermuda are among the highest per capita GDP countries in the world. Small countries are easer to manage well than large countries. The list goes on and on. Andorra, Malta, Cypress, Slovenia, Switzerland, etc. etc.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

What is the likelihood of Moldova asking for a merger with Romania. You would expect it would take a referendum? Would Romania want Moldova?

[Alter Kaker]

I'm not an expert in Moldovan-Romanian relations, but the last I heard, Moldova wanted to merge with Romania, however Romania wanted no part of Moldova. It's a shame, because Moldova produces some terrific wines.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Putin and Co. love it because the russian mob moves a lot of smuggled weapons and sex slave prostitutes through that region.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

Wasn't Moldova a part of Romania prior to WWII (Bessaraba)?

I have heard that the Transdniester is a criminal enterprise and that 50% of its population under 30 have emigrated.

[G8 Diplomat]

Wasn't Moldova a part of Romania prior to WWII?

I don't know for sure, but it would make sense because the Romanian and Moldovan languages and culture are very similar.

[Lukasz]

Note that the Transnistria region doesn't share a border with Russia. If it joined Russia, it would be as economically (un) viable as that glorious hellhole to its North, Kaliningrad. At some point, Moldova will merge with Romania and things may improve (somewhat).

Transnistria is a hellhole in hellhole called Moldova. Now when they are practically isolated by Ukraine, they can expect nothing more than economic catastrophe. Kaliningrad is in better neighborhood and has sea-links with Russia proper. If not completely moronic central policy from Moscow (which treats Poland and Lithuania as enemies), this region could look not bad at all.

[Lukasz]

What is the likelihood of Moldova asking for a merger with Romania. You would expect it would take a referendum? Would Romania want Moldova?

Currently Moldova is ruled by democratically elected communists. The last thing that they want is a merger with Romania, they would lose posts immediately. They claim that they are separate nation with separate language.

I think, at least 10 years ago they rejected merger in referendum but I would question validity.

[Lukasz]

I don't know for sure, but it would make sense because the Romanian and Moldovan languages and culture are very similar.

Their common language and culture is Romanian. Infected only by separation during cold war.

[Lukasz]

Wasn't Moldova a part of Romania prior to WWII (Bessaraba)?

Yes it was, Soviet Union annexed them.

[Grzegorz 246]

Everything depends on behavior of Ukraine and with rather pro-Russian government I don't think that they will be really isolating that region, at least not in near future.

[Grzegorz 246]

"Transnistria is a hellhole in hellhole called Moldova."

My friend was in Moldova last summer. Cool place he says. A bottle of vodka costs $1.