Holding the referendums is one of the key provisions of the Tiraspol-proposed joint declaration "On the Approval by the Peoples of the Republic of Moldova and the Transdniestrian Moldovan Republic of the Formation of a Federal State of Moldova and Transdniestra."
Mr. Smirnov said that the decision to unite in a federation or on reject of this unity must be made separately by the people of Transdniestria and the people of Moldova.
"Everybody will have to agree with such a decision, no matter what it will be. In order these referenda could be recognized by the international community, they must be conducted in accordance with international election standards and under international control," the Transdniestrian leader said.
According to him, "the practice of holding such referenda does exist - they were recently held in Cyprus." Although the results of the referenda on Cyprus were negative, the decision was made by the people, after serious deliberations and has been recognized by the international community, Mr. Smirnov noted.
"The submission of this draft joint declaration is not a step backwards or a retreat from our earlier expressed position. It is an initiative aimed at finding a way out of the blind alley into which the Republic of Moldova has brought us," the Transdniestrian leader said.
He also noted that Russia's military guarantees were one of the main obstacles in signing the memorandum proposed by Russia in November, last year.
"In creating a united state, this question will have to be solved all the same," he said. "But at this stage we can already come to an agreement that it is necessary to demilitarize the region and to remove the heavy burden of maintaining armed forces - after all, Transdniestria and Moldova do not have outside enemies."
The Transdniestrian leader said that the Moldovan president's retraction on his signature on the draft memorandum meant and still means only one thing: Moldova and its present political leadership cannot be recognized as a proper partner in bilateral relations.
"Any agreements with Moldova or its leaders call for introducing a system of bigger guarantees, and not only for Transdniestria, but also for other participants in a political settlement," Mr. Smirnov stated.
