Strasbourg, 06/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - Estonian Socialist Marianne Mikko, who chairs the EP delegation for relations with Moldova, describes as “provocation” Transnistria's plans to hold a referendum on independence from Moldova (from which it broke away in 1992 after an “armed conflict involving Russian military support”), a press release states. “The region has no international recognition and the referendum is therefore illegal”, Ms Mikko says, adding like Dutch Socialist Jan Marinus Wiersma, that “Russia must fulfil its commitments by withdrawing troops unconditionally … including their heavy weaponry and munitions”.
The referendum announced by the “secessionist authorities of the Transnistrian Region of Moldova, has no legal validity. Before you can have a valid referendum you need a political agreement on settlement. You also need to put n place the minimal Council of Europe democratic standards”, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Terry Davis commented. “The Council of Europe supports the territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova and calls for the renewal of the negotiating process”, said Terry Davis after the meeting with Mr Andrei Neguta, the newly appointed Moldovan Ambassador to the Council of Europe.