MOLDOVA: Polls open in referendum to confirm the Russian-speaking Dnestr region's secession from Moldova
Record ID:
573971
MOLDOVA: Polls open in referendum to confirm the Russian-speaking Dnestr region's secession from Moldova
- Title: MOLDOVA: Polls open in referendum to confirm the Russian-speaking Dnestr region's secession from Moldova
- Date: 17th September 2006
- Summary: (BN06)TIRASPOL, MOLDOVA (SEPTEMBER 17, 2006)(REUTERS- ACCESS ALL) EXTERIOR OF POLLING STATION SIGN OF POLLING STATION PEOPLE ENTERING POLLING STATION VARIOUS OF PEOPLE BEING REGISTERED FOR VOTE POLLING STATION OFFICIALS CHECKING PASSPORTS WOMAN VOTING ELECTION OFFICIALS BALLOT PAPER BALLOT BOX WITH DNESTR FLAG CLOSE OF MAN FILLING BALLOT PAPER MAN LEAVES POLLING BOOTH AND VOTES QUEUE OF VOTERS REGISTERING TO CAST BALLOTS MAN CAST BALLOT (SOUNDBITE)(Russian) VALENTINA, A PENSIONER, SAYING: "I have voted for merger with Russia and for prosperity of our republic, we want our children have a good life in future ." (SOUNDBITE)(Russian) VALERY, A PENSIONER, SAYING: "It was known in 1992 already, whom we are with and who we are for. We are with Russia forever." SOLDIERS ENTERING POLLING STATION SOLDIERS REGISTERING TO CAST BALLOTS INTERIORS OF POLLNG STATION/ VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS VOTING VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS VOTING QUEUE OF SOLDIERS REGISTERING TO CAST BALLOTS WIDE INTERIOR OF POLLING STATION
- Embargoed: 2nd October 2006 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAKBX7OVHG5UNUPJI4WSRLG6A7
- Story Text: The Republic of Moldova's break-away Dnestr region votes on Sunday (September 17) to put a public stamp of approval on 16 years of de facto independence, as well as take steps towards eventually joining the Russian Federation, even though it doesn't share a border with that country.
Some 400,000 voters in Dnestr, a land-locked sliver of land wedged between Moldova and Ukraine, two questions are asked : whether they support independence and subsequent merger with Russia, or whether they reject independence and wish to remain a part of Moldova.
The majority ethnic Russian population of Dnestr fears becoming a minority if they stay part of Moldova.
"I have voted for merger with Russia and for prosperity of our republic, we want our children have a good life in future ," said Valentina, a pensioner, as she voted.
Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin criticized Russia for not having withdrawn troops and weapons from Dnestr under international agreements with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Russia still has some 1,500 troops in Dnestr which it says are necessary to guard large arms stockpiles dating back to the Soviet-era.
Western countries say they will not recognise Sunday's vote in Dnestr. Russia has urged Europe to take heed of the plebiscite.
Dnestr, which accounts for one-eighth of tiny Moldova's area but 40 percent of its industry, declared independence in 1990 on fears that Moldova's Romanian-speaking majority would one day choose to join Romania to the south.
Moldova and Dnestr, which was backed by the Russian 14th Army, fought a brief war in the months following the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.
Moldova offers broad autonomy to Dnestr and says the Russian army's presence and support for the separatists, backed by nationalists in Moscow, are the main impediments to a settlement. Dnestr's leaders say nothing short of independence will do and have wooed voters with promises of Russian passports, pensions and education once unification with Moscow takes shape.
Years of mediation led by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, along with the United States, European Union, Russia and Ukraine, have made little progress.
The OSCE rejects the poll outright, dismissing the questions as "suggestive" and decrying a lack of freedoms in the region. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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