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Transdniester Pulls Out Of Talks On Settlement

March 7, 2006 -- Igor Smirnov, the leader of the breakaway region of Transdniester says his unrecognized republic is pulling out of talks to on resolving its conflict with Moldova.

The move came in response to a decision by neighboring Ukraine not to allow in goods from Transdniester unless they were cleared by Moldovan customs.

Transdniester's separatist leaders say the new rules amount to "an economic blockade" and accuse Ukraine of taking Moldova's side in the conflict. Smirnov said on March 7 that "Ukraine is becoming the main tool in helping Moldova reach its political [aims]."

Smirnov said on March 7 that, in such conditions, "all negotiations" have become "totally pointless."

Russia said the Ukrainian move was aimed at putting economic pressure on Transdniester.

Ukraine called on March 7 for international talks to discuss the situation on its border with Moldova.

Transdniester, a largely Russian-speaking region, broke away from Moldova in the early 1990s.

Talks led by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have made little progress toward resolving the issue of Transdniester's status.

(Interfax-Ukraine, AFP)

Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org