Separatist leader willing to meet with new Moldovan authorities

Igor Smirnov, President of the separatist Transnistrian Moldovan Republic in Eastern Moldova, said today during a press conference that he is ready to talk to the new Moldovan authorities when they are elected.

Mr. Smirnov added that Mihai Ghimpu, the newly-elected Speaker, "considers himself to be a Romanian" and that he had a meeting with the official in 1989. Mr. Smirnov is essentially referring to Mr. Ghimpu's participation in the pro-Romanian national front movement at the end of the 1980s that contributed to the downfall of the Soviet Union.

The spearatist leader stressed, however, that he would only negotiate with Chisinau if Moldovan authorities accept the fact that "the choice of the Transnistrian people is an independent state."

Moldova fought a short but bloodly civil war in 1992, as a result of which Transnistria broke away and formed its own country. The region, which hosts most of Moldova's heavy industry, is not recognized by any country in the world, but receives financial and political support from the Russian Federation. For example, Russia donated 14 million U.S. dollar to the region between 2007 and 2008, and many Russian State Duma officials often visit Transnistria.