Igor Smirnov In Moscow Talks |
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Moscow hosted a meeting of Abkhazian, South Ossetian and Transdniestrian foreign ministers on Tuesday where the three breakaway republics announced plans to seek independence following Kosovo'sexample. Meanwhile, Russian officials are trying to persuade the Transdniestrian leader to mend fences with the Moldovan president. Abkhazia'sForeign Minister Sergey Shamba, South Ossetia'sMurat Dzhioev and Transdniestria'sValery Litskay gathered in Moscow to consider prospects for gaining independence for their republics. ?We will surely study the Kosovo precedent no matter what the West thinks?, Murat Dzhioev said in an interview with Kommersant. The South Ossetian foreign policy chief said some sort of decision may be reached as early as in April when leaders of the three rebellious territories meet in Moscow. Transdniestrian President Igor Smirnov is also in Moscow with an agenda full of meetings with Russian officials. Mr. Smirnov is apparently seeking Moscow'ssuccor in the view of an impending economic crisis which may strike the country after Moldova and neighboring Ukraine imposed special customs regulations on Transdniestrian goods. In return for financial help, Russia would like to see Tiraspol returning at talks with Chisinau. Transdniestria has been reluctant to meet Moldovan leadership until Chisinau acknowledges Tiraspol as an equal party in negotiations and lift the unfavorable customs regimes. Moscow is working hard trying to organize a meeting between Igor Smirnov and Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin. As long as both Moldova and Transdniestria are ?in Russia'steam?, Moscow would not oppose any plan on the conflict resolution, a Kommersant source in the Kremlin says. Chisinau seems to be biding its time when Igor Smirnov is ready for the meeting. In any case, Moldovan authorities no longer mind Moscow trips of the Transdniestrian leader. ?No one forbids him to hold different consultations,? a Moldovan official told Kommersant Tuesday. ?What is important is the right direction.? www.kommersant.com
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