Transdniestra looks to Kosovo case

Media in Transdniestra are exploring possible double standards in the U.S. approach to their region, and Kosovo.

Izvor: B92

Sunday, 04.11.2007.

19:08

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Media in Transdniestra are exploring possible double standards in the U.S. approach to their region, and Kosovo. The Tiraspol Times thus reports that Brad Sherman, Democratic Congressman from California, "pointed to double standards in American policy during hearings in Washington this week." Transdniestra looks to Kosovo case "We support territorial integrity in relation to Transdniestria, but we stand for self-determination of Kosovo in Serbia," he said. Another congressman, Republican Dana Rohrabacher, also reportedly voiced criticism on the same subject. "Some might say we are inexplicably inconsistent, but I would say we are very consistent: we take anti-Russia position in all these three conflicts." "The U.S. deprives Russia of a right to have any legitimate interests outside its own territory, even in its ethnically-similar former republics," Sherman was quoted as saying during hearings at the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs. He also criticized Washington as having its foreign policy establishment formed during the Soviet era, now prone to "reflexively take anti-Russian position," even critical of Moscow's bids "to sell their natural gas demanding the market price for it." "Russians have all grounds to be displeased with the U.S. and our actions ever since the fall of communism," Rohrabacher told the committee. He mentioned the Jackson-Vanik amendment, a foreign trade restriction against Russia. The amendment is still in force and it hurts Russia's trade with the United States, even at a time when the U.S. lifted all foreign trade restrictions from China, the newspaper said. "There are no opposition parties in China, no protest rallies on the streets, no freedom of religion, and they are among the major violators of human rights. Nonetheless, we grant them the most favorable trade terms," said Rohrabacher. Transdniestria is seeking international recognition of what it calls its de facto independence. The United States is formally opposed to this, and has repeatedly said that the region should be ruled by neighboring Moldova. This, the newspaper says, comes "despite a lack of any historical or ethnic connections [with Moldova], and against the will of the vast majority of its 550,000 inhabitants who prefer independence and self-determination."

Transdniestra looks to Kosovo case

"We support territorial integrity in relation to Transdniestria, but we stand for self-determination of Kosovo in Serbia," he said.

Another congressman, Republican Dana Rohrabacher, also reportedly voiced criticism on the same subject.

"Some might say we are inexplicably inconsistent, but I would say we are very consistent: we take anti-Russia position in all these three conflicts."

"The U.S. deprives Russia of a right to have any legitimate interests outside its own territory, even in its ethnically-similar former republics," Sherman was quoted as saying during hearings at the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

He also criticized Washington as having its foreign policy establishment formed during the Soviet era, now prone to "reflexively take anti-Russian position," even critical of Moscow's bids "to sell their natural gas demanding the market price for it."

"Russians have all grounds to be displeased with the U.S. and our actions ever since the fall of communism," Rohrabacher told the committee.

He mentioned the Jackson-Vanik amendment, a foreign trade restriction against Russia. The amendment is still in force and it hurts Russia's trade with the United States, even at a time when the U.S. lifted all foreign trade restrictions from China, the newspaper said.

"There are no opposition parties in China, no protest rallies on the streets, no freedom of religion, and they are among the major violators of human rights. Nonetheless, we grant them the most favorable trade terms," said Rohrabacher.

Transdniestria is seeking international recognition of what it calls its de facto independence.

The United States is formally opposed to this, and has repeatedly said that the region should be ruled by neighboring Moldova.

This, the newspaper says, comes "despite a lack of any historical or ethnic connections [with Moldova], and against the will of the vast majority of its 550,000 inhabitants who prefer independence and self-determination."

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