"Today, we are witnessing deliberate attempts by Chisinau's regime to downplay Russia's role as a peacemaker and a guarantor of stability and security on the Dniester," Smirnov said at a press conference in the Transdniestrian capital Tiraspol Tuesday.
"Moldova first sought to solve the problem by force, then it went on to economic sanctions, and now it is trying to change the five-side negotiation format. I can see one single goal behind-regaining Transdniestria and reestablishing Moldovan laws here," Smirnov said.
"No one will have Chisinau set rules for the Transdniestrian people to live by," said the leader of the self-proclaimed republic. He described as cynical the proposal to settle the Transdniestrian crisis following the Gagauz Autonomy's model.
Smirnov said, however, that the Transdniestrian leadership were still willing to continue settlement negotiations with Moldova, but on equal footing only.
Transdniestria has lost 47,246,000 dollars owing to Moldova's economic sanctions, imposed on August 1, 2004. These sanctions have prevented the republic from exporting $36 million worth of goods, and $6 million in tax revenues have failed to make it into the republican coffers as a result.
In a televised address to the nation last Saturday, President Vladimir Voronin of Moldova put the current strain in Russo-Moldovan relations down to the two countries' differing stances on the Transdniestria issue.
According to him, Russia and Moldova have failed to agree on a principle to govern the settlement.
Russia believes that the crisis should be solved through the creation of a treaty federation between Transdniestria and Moldova whereas the Moldovan government seeks to make the breakaway republic a constituent autonomy, along the Gagauz model, Voronin said.
