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.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Communists: We will not show up to second meeting of Parliament on September 2
Party of Communists (PC) officials have said that they will not attend the second meeting of the Parliament, scheduled by the ruling Alliance for European Integration for September 2.
PC representative Mark Tkaciuk, said that "we asked for a break until September 4, which is when we're going to show up for a meeting. We don't know what's happening on September 2, we don't know about any meeting."
During the first meeting of the legislature last week, the PC asked for a ten-day break and then left. The ruling Alliance continued the session and elected Liberal head Mihai Ghimpu as Speaker. The PC has announced that it will contest the legality of this appointment and of the continuation of the meeting in general.
h/t www.stireazilei.md
www.jurnal.md
PC representative Mark Tkaciuk, said that "we asked for a break until September 4, which is when we're going to show up for a meeting. We don't know what's happening on September 2, we don't know about any meeting."
During the first meeting of the legislature last week, the PC asked for a ten-day break and then left. The ruling Alliance continued the session and elected Liberal head Mihai Ghimpu as Speaker. The PC has announced that it will contest the legality of this appointment and of the continuation of the meeting in general.
h/t www.stireazilei.md
www.jurnal.md
Moldova celebrates Romanian Language Day today
Moldova is celebrating Romanian Language Day today, a rather unique holiday to honor the return to the use of Latin script twenty years ago.
During the Soviet Union, Romanian was written in cyrillic and was called Moldovan.
The controversy over the name of the language continues today. The Constitution says that Moldovans speak "Moldovan written in Latin script" despite the fact that every schoolchild in the country officially learns Romanian.
In addition, many continue to use the term "Moldovan." The Party of Communists has been a big proponent of this approach, emphasizing that a country can pick the name of its language despite the fact that some of its leaders have acknowledged the language's virtual similarity with Romanian.
The four leaders of the ruling Alliance for European Integration seem somewhat divided over this issue. The heads of the three liberal parties - the Liberal Democrats, the Liberals, and Moldova Noastra - called the language "Romanian" today, while Democratic Party head Marian Lupu, who recently defected from the Communists, did not want to specify what he calls the language.
Whatever the term is, however, Alliance members and other civil society activists and intellectuals have complained that the language of the majority population in Moldova is often underused and that Russian still dominates a large part of the public sphere.
h/t www.stireazilei.md
During the Soviet Union, Romanian was written in cyrillic and was called Moldovan.
The controversy over the name of the language continues today. The Constitution says that Moldovans speak "Moldovan written in Latin script" despite the fact that every schoolchild in the country officially learns Romanian.
In addition, many continue to use the term "Moldovan." The Party of Communists has been a big proponent of this approach, emphasizing that a country can pick the name of its language despite the fact that some of its leaders have acknowledged the language's virtual similarity with Romanian.
The four leaders of the ruling Alliance for European Integration seem somewhat divided over this issue. The heads of the three liberal parties - the Liberal Democrats, the Liberals, and Moldova Noastra - called the language "Romanian" today, while Democratic Party head Marian Lupu, who recently defected from the Communists, did not want to specify what he calls the language.
Whatever the term is, however, Alliance members and other civil society activists and intellectuals have complained that the language of the majority population in Moldova is often underused and that Russian still dominates a large part of the public sphere.
h/t www.stireazilei.md
Friday, August 28, 2009
Public Television station refuses to give Alliance requested airtime, claims "technical difficulties"
Moldovan Public Television head Adela Raileanu told Jurnal de Chisinau that her company cannot give airtime to the ruling Alliance for the European Integration because of "technical difficulties."
The Alliance asked for an hour of primetime to be able to send an "unaltered message" to the Moldovan people after it voted in a Speaker today and announced the distribution of leadership seats (the President will be nominated by the Democrats, while the Prime Minister will come from the Liberal Democrats).
Ms. Raileanu also said she cannot make a decision about broadcasting legislative meetings live, which the Alliance also asked for. She said only the Public Television Council of Observers or the television station's administration can make that call.
The four parties making up the Alliance for European Integration have often criticized Moldovan Public Television for being biased in favor of the Party of Communists.
The Alliance asked for an hour of primetime to be able to send an "unaltered message" to the Moldovan people after it voted in a Speaker today and announced the distribution of leadership seats (the President will be nominated by the Democrats, while the Prime Minister will come from the Liberal Democrats).
Ms. Raileanu also said she cannot make a decision about broadcasting legislative meetings live, which the Alliance also asked for. She said only the Public Television Council of Observers or the television station's administration can make that call.
The four parties making up the Alliance for European Integration have often criticized Moldovan Public Television for being biased in favor of the Party of Communists.
Democrats to get Presidency, Liberal Democrats to appoint Prime Minister
Newly-elected Speaker Mihai Ghimpu said that the Alliance for European Integration has decided on the distribution of leadership seats.
The Democratic Party will get the Presidency, while the Liberal Democrats will be the ones to pick a Prime Minister.
Mr. Ghimpu would not say what position has been given to the Moldova Noastra [Our Moldova] Alliance, the fourth member of the ruling coalition.
h/t www.stireazilei.md
The Democratic Party will get the Presidency, while the Liberal Democrats will be the ones to pick a Prime Minister.
Mr. Ghimpu would not say what position has been given to the Moldova Noastra [Our Moldova] Alliance, the fourth member of the ruling coalition.
h/t www.stireazilei.md
Democrats ask Public Television and Public Radio to broadcast legislative meetings live
The Democratic Party, a member of the Alliance for European Integration, made a proposal asking the Public Television and Public Radio stations to broadcast the legislative meetings live.
The Alliance voted unanimously in favor of this request.
The Alliance voted unanimously in favor of this request.
New majority coalition asks Public Television and Public Radio for one hour of primetime to send "unaltered message" to the Moldovan people
The new majority coalition has asked the Public Television and the Public Radio stations to allot one hour of primetime to send an "unaltered message" to the Moldovan people.
Speaker Mihai Ghimpu (Liberal Party) said that Moldovan Public Television "is not really public," suggesting that it is subordinated to the Party of Communists.
Every Alliance member voted to make this request.
h/t www.jurnal.md
Speaker Mihai Ghimpu (Liberal Party) said that Moldovan Public Television "is not really public," suggesting that it is subordinated to the Party of Communists.
Every Alliance member voted to make this request.
h/t www.jurnal.md
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