RIA Novosti, Russia
Dec 27 2007

Transdnestr deserves independence more than Kosovo – leader
17:31 | 27/ 12/ 2007

TIRASPOL, December 27 (RIA Novosti) – Transdnestr’s leader Igor
Smirnov said on Thursday his breakaway republic has more grounds to
declare independence than the Serbian Albanian-dominated province.

Transdnestr, a separatist republic with a large ethnic Russian
population, proclaimed its independence from Moldova after the
collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

"For us, the Kosovo precedent is an important but not the only key
factor. Historical and legal factors, and reality itself suggest we
have more right to independence," Smirnov told a news conference,
adding that the republic complied with all frames of reference within
international law when it came to sovereignty.

The Transdnestrian leader said the international community should
develop universal rules and principles for conflict settlement if it
wanted to ensure safety, stability and certainty.

"It is time Moldova realized this then more progress would be
achieved on many issues," Smirnov said.

Throughout long-lasting talks aimed at finding a solution to the
status of Serbia’s breakaway province, Russia has backed Belgrade in
opposing Kosovo’s sovereignty, warning it would have a knock on
effect for other secessionist areas, such as Transdnestr in Moldova,
South Ossetia and Abkhazia in Georgia and Nagorny Karabakh in
Azerbaijan, so called frozen conflicts since the 1990s.

The UN Security Council failed last Wednesday to bridge divisions
over the future of Kosovo. The province’s drive for independence has
been backed by the West and firmly opposed by Serbia. The European
Union and NATO assumed responsibility for determining Kosovo’s
status.