New show down of NATO with Russia in EAST Europe (Transdniester vs. Moldova)
Better to see toward east not WEST Who today can exist without Russia?"
Small nations are like indecently dressed women—they tempt the evil minded.
—Julius Nyerere, President of Tanzania, 1964
The true war theater begins in the Balkans and the Black Sea region and stretches along the Russian to the Chinese border. The dissolution of the Soviet Bloc and the disintegration of Yugoslavia produced 22 new independent governments across Europe and Central Asia.

Moldova sandwiched between Nato and EU member Romania and Ukraine, which also wants to join the Western clubs, has a long-running conflict with Moscow-backed separatists in Trans-Dniester, a sliver of land on its eastern border. Like Georgia's rebel regions, Trans-Dniester broke away from Moldova as the Soviet Union collapsed and one-third of its people hold Russian passports.

Moldova is located in Eastern Europe, bordering Romania to the west and is otherwise surrounded by Ukraine. A landlocked country, Moldova is geographically a part of the Black Sea region having an outlet to the sea through the Danube River. Moldova's capital is Chisinau, with a population of about 700,000. "Dnestr" (or variants "Dniester", "Dniestr") is the Russian designation for the river the Moldovans and Romanians know as the "Nistru."
The country has an area of 33,800 square kilometres, and comprises five city municipalities, 32 districts and two autonomous regions, Gagauzia and Transdnestr. Ethnic make-up is Moldovans 76%, Ukrainians 8.4% and Russians 5.9%. The number of Russians and Ukrainians is rapidly decreasing. Transdnestr has a population of 600,000 composed of mostly Russians, Ukrainians (32% each) and Moldovans (26%). Moldova's population has a total of 120 ethnicities, including Gagauz, who make up 4.4% of its population, Romanians and Bulgarians accounting for 2.2% and 1.9% respectively. The Moldovan armed forces number 11,500.

1 Motorized Infantry Brigade Men: 1,470 ,APCs: 2 BTR-6OPB; 5 BTR-80; 69 TAB-71 , Artillery: 17 M-30; 18 M-120 Vehicles: 14 BMP/BTR ,armoured command and control vehicles
2 Motorized Infantry Brigade Men: 1,556 APOs: 36 BMD-1; 11 BTR~D Artillery: 18 D-20; 24 M-120 Vehicles: 49 BMP/BTR 3 Motorized Infantry Brigade 1,476 APCs: 2 BTR-80; 58 TAB-71 Artillery: 13 D-20; 18 M-120 Vehicles: 48 BMP/BTR look-alikes/misc Artillery Brigade (Ungheni) Men: 983 Artillery: 18 x 2A36; 14 x 9P140 Uragan Vehicles: 19 BMP/BTR
Mixed Aviation Brigade Men: 845 Aircraft: 3 Mi~8 Air Defence Brigade Men: 1073 , Tanks: Nil APCs: 209 (54 BMD-1; 2 BTR-6OPB; 11 BTR-80; 11 BTR.:-D; 131 TAB-71) Artillery: 154 (21 x 2A36; 32 D-20; 17 M-30; 9 x 289; 15 x 9P140 "Uregan"; 60 M-120

Dniester, a tiny, poor separatist province in Moldova where the dream of joining Mother Russia is now stronger than ever. After the Russian army went into Georgia in August and the Kremlin recognized two Georgian rebel regions, many in Trans-Dniester are hoping they'll be next in line. Of course, there's still the problem that Russia's nearest border is 430 miles away. Moldova is a member state of the United Nations, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, GUAM and the CIS, and has observer status in EurAsEC.

The country, where most people speak Romanian, has also offered Russian-speakers in Trans-Dniester broad autonomy. Russia may be 700km away, but its powerful presence is strongly felt in Trans-Dniester. The poorest country in Europe, Moldova would like a clear path to EU membership

Today Moldova’s leading industry is emigration, legal and illegal, mostly to Russia and the EU. According to the World Bank, remittances from these workers accounts for 27.5% of Moldova’s gross domestic product (GDP).
On 16 March 1994, Moldova became the twelfth state (and fourth former Soviet republic) to enroll in NATO's Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme. Moldova has been a NATO partner country since 1994. Moldova is a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace program and has sent troops to Iraq. New leaders say they want closer relations with NATO but do not intend to apply for membership,Russia can not giving up its old-standing policy of controlling Moldova through Trans-Dniester."

The mainly Russian-speaking region used to be part of Soviet Ukraine, but became part of Moldova, a region that was annexed from Romania shortly before World War II. Fearful that Moldova would reunite with Romania after the Soviet collapse and clamp down on the use of the Russian language, Trans-Dniester broke away in 1992 in a war that killed some 1,500 people. the outbreak of a full-scale, local civil war with Transnistrian separatists strongly supported by elements of Russia's highly politicised 14th Army, which provided a traumatic baptism by fire for the nascent armed forces of the Republic .

As with the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the Kremlin supports Trans-Dniester with cheap gas, monthly $10 stipends to pensioners, a contingent of 1100 peacekeepers and perhaps the most prized gift of all -- its maroon passports. Every fifth resident holds a Russian passport.President Igor Smirnov controls the region in the style of his Soviet predecessors

Moldova's average monthly wage is only $350 (euro245), and the International Monetary Fund warned its gross domestic product will tumble 9 percent this year. Moldova was in political paralysis in April parliamentary elections sparked violent protests that left three people dead and hundreds arrested, with the opposition claiming that vote was rigged.

A pro-Europe victory in election already move Moldova closer to the EU and NATO, and now helping Moldova repair relations with Romania. Moldova imposed visa requirements on Romanians after Voronin accused the neighboring country of trying to overthrow his government during April 7 riots but now lifted by new elected PM Filat Government after election. Moldova was part of Romania until 1940, and gained its independence after the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union.

Romanian news source quoted the American vice president as also saying, "We share a desire that Romania’s neighbors including Moldova will continue along the path to democracy and...that they will be integrated into European institutions when they are ready. That’s why we have to sustain this bid to economically stabilize Moldova.”

Moldova was the scene of a so-called Twitter Revolution in April of this year, one modeled after earlier "color" uprisings in Yugoslavia, Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan from 2000-2005, and now has a new government ready to merge with Romania, which would mean dragging the former Soviet republic into NATO.

Moldova also has an unresolved, "frozen," conflict with Transdniester where Russia deployed peacekeepers in 1992 after thousands were killed and injured in fighting between the two states. There are still 1365 Russian troops in the republic and last month a Transdniester official requested more Russian forces in anticipation of increased tensions with Moldova's new pro-NATO government.

Were Moldova to join NATO, either in its own right or as part of an expanded Romania, the Alliance would be in a de facto state of war with Transdniester, which is supported by Russia. Romania is a NATO member and if it intervened on behalf of Moldova against its neighbor could invoke NATO's Article 5 against Transdniester - where, again, Russian troops are based.
The Yel'tsin-Snegur agreement of 21 July 1992 provided for a cease-fire, the creation of a security zone on both sides of the Nistru river and the deployment of a joint Russian/Moldovan/PMR peacekeeping force .

Five-sided" or "pentagonal" framework. Created in 1997 by Russia's then-foreign affairs minister Yevgeny Primakov (capitalizing on the results of Russia's earlier military intervention in Moldova), the pentagonal format includes rump Moldova and Trans-Dniester as co-equal parties, as well as Russia, Ukraine, and the OSCE as mediators. This format ensures multiple representation of Russia: in its own right, via its Trans-Dniester proteges; via Ukraine, which invariably seconds Russia's positions; and via the OSCE, whose every statement and position represents a negotiated consensus with Russia. Thus, the "five-sided" format provides quadruple Russian representation, excludes any direct Western role, and leaves Moldova isolated.

Pro-Russian Communists who came to power in Moldova since 2001 lost elections in July. A new pro-Western alliance won the elections and now has a parliamentary majority, but does not have enough votes to elect a new president.

During the first foreign visit to Brussels, 2009 the Prime minister of Moldova Vladimir Filat has declared that the withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistrian region should be carried out according to earlier reached Istanbul arrangements of 1999.

The issue of prompt withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistrian region has been raised on that very day in New York by the permanent representative of Moldova at the United Nations, Alexandru Cujbă, during the session of UN General Assembly.

The operative group of the Russian army in Transnistrian region totals 1350 military persons. Primary goals of OGRA are: participation in peace-making operation and protection of warehouses with ammunition in the village Colbasna.

After World War II, the Soviet Union created the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) from the Russian-speaking Dniester region, formerly an autonomous part of Ukraine, and the neighboring region of Bessarabia, which had been part of Romania from 1918-1940. During the Soviet era, Trans-Dniestr became the industrial heartland and economic center of the Moldovan SSR. Molodvan script from Latin, which Romanians use, to Cyrillic. Russian became the official state language and Moldovan was relegated to a vernacular status.

The first-ever competitive elections in the Moldovan swept ethnic Moldovans into power in 1990.Moldova declared its independence from the Soviet Union in August 1991, shortly after the failed Moscow putsch, and subsequently joined the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). In September 1991, the Supreme Soviet of Trans-Dniestr adopted its own constitution and began to build its own armed forces.

In December 1991, Trans-Dniestr held both a presidential election and a referendum on independence, which passed. Trans-Dniestrian paramilitary forces and militias soon after began a “creeping putsch” in which they attacked several Moldovan police stations in Trans-Dniestr and tried to overthrow local authorities in the mainly ethnic-Moldovan rural areas, whose loyalty belonged to the Moldovan government. The Soviet 14th Army, already stationed in Trans-Dniestr and composed of mainly ethnic Russian natives from the region, played a critical role in supporting Trans-Dniestrn forces during the “creping putsch.”

The Moldovan Parliament adopted a new constitution on 28 July 1994 which proclaims Moldova a neutral, sovereign, independent and indivisible state, with equal rights for all minorities. Article 11, in particular, stipulates that "The Republic of Moldova declares its permanent neutrality [and] does not admit the stationing of foreign military units on its territory". The provisions of Article 11 are reiterated in the foreign policy concept adopted by parliament in February 1995:

In 1994, Moldova passed a new constitution that granted a special autonomous status to Trans-Dniestr. In 1997, negotiations between Moldova and Trans-Dniestr resumed. The talks yielded an agreement granting Trans-Dniestr more autonomy and calling for more talks in the future.

In February 1996, Moldova and Trans-Dniestrn authorities agreed to allow Trans-Dniestr to export goods legally without paying taxes to the to the Moldovan government. Trans-Dniestr was granted the right to use the customs seal of the Republic of Moldova on its goods. Moldova also agreed not to collect taxes on goods entering Trans-Dniestr. In return, Trans-Dniestr agreed to establish joint Moldovan-Trans-Dniestrian customs centers on the border with Ukraine. Though the deal lasted until 2001, Trans-Dniestrn authorities did not honor the agreement and Moldovan officials are still not allowed to enter Trans-Dniestrn territory.

In the Summer of 1996 Moldovan troops participated for the first time in PfP manoeuvres "Shield of Peace '96" (in Ukraine) in June and "Cooperative Determination `96" (in Bulgaria) in July - albeit merely in platoon strength. The 3 Moldovan PfP liaison officer had already taken up his duties in September 1994, but on financial grounds Moldova had hitherto taken part in PIP exercises merely in an observer capacity. In May 1997 PfP exercises were held for the first time in Moldova. Moldovan and US Army medical troops participated in a joint exercise on the conduct of rescue and evacuation operations following a natural disaster.

Petru Lucinsehi was elected President of Moldova in the second round of voting in the presidential election on 1 December 1996, and secured 54.07% of the vote. (His opponent, the incumbent President Snegur, gained 45.93%). A former senior Soviet apparatchik, Moldovan Ambassador in Moscow,

On 21 October 1994 Russia and Moldova signed an agreement on the withdrawal of 14th Army from Moldova over a period of three years after the document's ratification. When Russia was admitted to the Council of Europe in January 1996, it undertook to ratification within six months the army withdrawal agreement. Thus far, however, the Duma has signally failed to do so. Moreover from 1994 onwards Russia sought to make its de facto military base in Transnistria de jure - a move that Moldova has so far been able firmly to resist.

In 1999, an OSCE summit in Istanbul called for withdrawal of all Russian weapons and ammunition in Trans-Dniestr in violation of the CFE Treaty by the end of 2001 and the withdrawal of all Russian troops by the end of 2002. Trans-Dniestrn authorities, under diplomatic pressure, accepted the destruction of CFE-prohibited weapons, but resisted the removal of other weapons and ammunition. In May 2001, the OSCE and Russia reached an agreement on OSCE monitoring and assistance for the withdrawal of troops and the destruction of arms. A pullout began later that year, but was halted when Trans-Dniestr blocked the withdrawal of Russian arms.

After a failed series of talks in Prague, Bratislava, and Warsaw, a new round of negotiations began in Kiev in July 2002. OSCE mediators helped draft the Kiev Document, which proposed a set of principles that would establish a unified, federal Moldova with a republican form of government after a transition period. Subsequent negotiations, however, failed to produce an agreement on the precise wording on Trans-Dniestr’s political status within the federal system.

Trans-Dniestr is not internationally recognized as a sovereign country. Since it declared independence from Moldova, the Trans-Dniestrn government has established its own state-like governmental structure. It has an elected president and parliament, a Trans-Dniestrian currency, a national bank, a judicial system, an elaborate military and security apparatus, a customs service, a constitution, a national anthem, and a flag. Trans-Dniestr has developed an extensive manufacturing sector that is run by corrupt officials and members of the Russian and Ukrainian business elite.

The United States (U.S) supports the withdrawal of Russian troops from Moldova and a negotiated settlement of the issue that maintains Molodvan territorial integrity. The U.S. has put pressure on Trans-Dniestr to end its “obstructionist tactics” to delay the withdrawal of Russian troops. In February 2003, the U.S., along with the European Union, announced a visa ban against several Trans-Dniestrn leaders. The U.S. is concerned that Trans-Dniestr has become a center for the trafficking of small arms to world trouble spots in Africa, the former Soviet Union, and the Middle East.
In November 2003, the relationship with Russia deteriorated even further over a Russian proposal for the solution of the Transnistrian conflict, which Moldovan authorities refused to accept. In the following election, held in 2005, the Communist party made a formal 180 degree turn and was re-elected on a pro-Western platform. Since 1999, Moldova has constantly affirmed its desire to join the EU

5+2 negotiation format was established in 2005 .the format includes both conflicting parties-Chisinauand-Tiaspol,Intermediaries-Russia,Ukarine and OSCE,as well as Observers-EU and US.The last meeting in 5+2 format has been held in june 2009

In March 2006, the matter of Trans-Dniestr came to the fore again when the leadership of the region decried the establishment of new regulations that would require goods entering Ukraine from Trans-Dniestr to have Moldovan customs stamp. The Moldovan government said that the new regulations were intended to stop smuggling but the leadership of Trans-Dniestr viewed it as means to counteract their sense of autonomy. But Russia strongly condemned the measure as economic blackmail. Regardless, the regulations were suported by countries such as the United States as well as regional blocs including the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation of Europe (OSCE).

Also in the spring of 2006, the government of Moldova had to deal with regulations of a similar sort levied by Russia. In that case, Russia decided to suspend imports of Moldovan wine on the basis of health considerations. Moldova protested the move saying that it was motivated by politics -- likely associated with Trans-Dniestr.

In mid-September 2006, the breakaway region of Trans-Dniestr held a referendum on independence from Moldova. The referendum posed the question of whether the half a million people of the separatist state wanted to be reunited with Moldova, join Russia of work toward independence. With a population that is mostly Russian-speaking, and given the penchant of the inhabitants for self-determination, a strong "yes" vote on independence and on integration with Russia was expected.

Mediation" by Russia, Ukraine, and the OSCE. In reality, Russia is a party to the conflict, having seized Moldovan territory by military force and installed Russian authorities there. This should disqualify Russia from a mediator's role. Ukraine passively follows Russia's lead in this "mediation." Moreover, Ukrainian authorities collude in the unlawful trade operations of Trans-Dniester's authorities. Russia determined the composition of this mediating trio by ruling Ukraine in, ruling Romania out, and resisting any Western participation.

Beyond the control of any strong national government, the region has become an international transit center for smuggled goods; metal and electronic goods, textiles, and wine are produced. A Russian-sponsored peace plan for the region was rejected by Moldova in Nov., 2003, after Moldovan demonstrations against it; the deal would have permitted Russian troops to remain until 2020.

Russia linked the solution to the conflict and the withdrawal of the army to Moldova non-accession to NATO, Russia must solve its problems with NATO but this is our territory and we have to decide on our fate. If the citizens decide through a referendum that we access NATO we cannot change anything “ Mihai Ghimpu said interim president of Moldova.

Mean while Russian President Medvedev said that the withdrawal of the army and of the Russian ammunition would depend on the leader in Tiraspol, Igor Smirnov. “ The position is clear and we should see what the Alliance policy is. I want to hope that the Russian Federation will find a solution and will not lie this matter on Smirnov’s shoulders”, Ghimpu said. CIS is an old lady waiting for her death. And now the old lady wants to go on living”Russia want Moldova he will stay in CIS camp not in NATO camp for not suffering see toward East not West Who today can exist without Russia?"Where is UN why he is not playing his role,Russia must stop bullying and respect the small country integrity and sovereignty of Moldovain ,bring the peace in the region and pull back all troops and ammunitions from Moldovaian areas,NATO and USA bring the peace in the region not destabilty toexpansion of NATO and Missile defense shield to the region.
Usman karim Based in Lahore Pakistan lmno25@hotmail.com