"The problem is basically lies in the difference of approaches, rather than in actual deterioration of the relations between Moldova and Russia," Mr. Voronin announced in a statement made on Moldavian TV on Saturday.
"We could not agree on the principle approach to the solution of the problem," the president stated. "That is when the controversy started."
According to Mr. Voronin, "Russia sees the solution of the problem in the creation of a federation, which will include Moldova and the Transdniestrian Moldavian Republic." At the same time, he mentioned that the Russian proposal "envisioned a federation formed on the basis of a treaty." "However, I never mentioned the possibility of such a treaty," he emphasized.
Mr. Voronin stated that Moldova would accept a model similar to the one applied to Gagauzia, which makes part of Moldova as an autonomous territorial body.
Announcing the perspectives of relations between Russia and Moldova, Mr. Voronin noted, "The original treaty between the Russian Federation and Moldova on strategic partnership remains in force, and we will never consider abandoning the provisions of this treaty or taking a different route."
The talks on the settlement of the Transdniestrian issue reached a deadlock last year when Mr. Voronin suddenly, under pressure from the West, reversed his decision to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Chisinau and sign a document that envisioned the creation of a federation which included the Republic of Moldova and the Transdniestrian Moldavian Republic (The Kozak Memorandum, according to the name of the then head of the Kremlin administration Dmitri Kozak). Curiously, the Moldavian side admits that 80% of The Kozak Memorandum were written by the Moldavian authorities. After the failure of talks with Moldova and due to disagreements with the West during the OSCE summit in Maastricht, Russia refused to sign the final documents of the meeting.
