Russia and Germany are currently working on a formal resolution to the ongoing dispute between Moldova and its breakaway territory of Transdniestria, according to STRATFOR sources. The resolution was agreed upon during a meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on June 14 in Geneva and is now being discussed with Moldova and Transdniestria in the lead-up to a June 21 meeting in Moscow on the issue. The dispute over Trandsniestria has gone on since the territory gained de facto independence from Moldova just after the fall of the Soviet Union. Trandsniestria has been propped up by Russian assistance, including a contingent of 500 Russian troops on its tiny sliver of territory. While the government in Moldova proper has in the last two years oriented itself toward Europe, Transdniestria has remained Moscow’s loyal ally. However, the situation has evolved since Berlin and Moscow made Transdniestria the leading topic of Russian and European security cooperation under the aegis of the EU Political and Security Committee. Germany is officially presenting the proposal, though Russia helped create it. The idea behind the proposed resolution, from Berlin and Moscow’s perspective, is to prove that Russo-German cooperation, which has been increasing in numerous fields, should not be seen as a threat to other European countries (especially in Central Europe) but as a force that can lead to improvements throughout Europe.
