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#41 - JRL 2007-182 - JRL Home
Transdniestria Is Only Problem In Moldovan-Russian Relations - President

CHISINAU. Aug 25 (Interfax) - Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin believes that only the problem of breakaway Transdniestria mars his country's otherwise normal relationship with Russia.

"Our relations with Russia are very normal and civilized in all respects. They meet present-day international standards, the spirit of camaraderie and three hundred years of friendship between or peoples. We have agreed with President Vladimir Putin to continue developing them in the same spirit," he said on a Saturday show on NIT channel. "There is only one stumbling block on the road of developing these relations - it is the question of Transdniestria," he said.

"Russia recently assumed a very constructive attitude to the issue. It is an open secret that Russia has great influence on Transndiestria. The solution of the question of Transdniestria would help intensify ties with Russia in all spheres," Voronin said.

"European integration remains a priority direction for this country," he said.

"However, we realize that Moldova is unprepared to join the European Union tomorrow. But we cannot remain ordinary onlookers of the integration processes taking place in Europe. We should be advancing in the framework of these processes," he said.

Voronin admitted that it is very advantageous for Moldova to operate within the CIS. "We are not making political or other concessions. We are not trading our independence or sovereignty. We cannot leave the East before taking root in the West. We won't do that even after we take root," he said.