An integral part of Moldova, Transnistria will be entitled to withdraw from the republic if Moldova unites with another state or loses its international legal status. The withdrawal would require approval by a referendum, and it would be monitored by international observers.

Transnistria’s official languages will be Moldovan, Ukrainian and Russian. The autonomous region would also get its own state emblems and constitution.

Transnistria will be given a part in Moldova’s internal and foreign policies, as well as in the economic, research and humanitarian areas. Natural resources, movable and immovable property on Transnistrian soil will be the property of Moldova.

Transnistria’s supreme legislative body will be a fairly elected supreme council. Elections to the council will be prepared and monitored by an international commission. The region’s top executive body will be the cabinet of ministers appointed by the supreme council.

The bill is expected to be passed by Moldova’s parliament shortly, to become the basis for a more detailed law on the region’s status, defining principles for the division of powers between Moldovan and Transnistrian authorities.

Russian diplomats are not happy with the document. Russia’s representative at the Transnistria settlement talks last month criticized the bill saying it raised many questions and was too general in nature.

Meanwhile, analysts predict a velvet revolution in Transnistria. Under a settlement plan developed by Ukrainian leader Viktor Yushchenko, the post of president would be abolished by a new supreme council of Transnistria. If this happens, Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov will have to flee to Russia.

An OSCE representative has confirmed that the organization was ready to prepare and monitor elections to Transnistria’s supreme council before the end of this year. If Transnistria’s authorities decide to hold elections independently, the Ogranization for Security and Cooperation in Europe would not monitor the voting and it would accept the results. Whatever the results might be, they would not change Transnistria’s international standing: the region would be regarded as part of Moldova, the OSCE official noted.

For their part, Transnistrian authorities want to keep Russian troops in the region, seeing them as a guarantee of security.

In 2003, Transnistria was ready to sign a memorandum on Transnistrian settlement with Moldova, on the condition that Russian troops remain in the region. The document was drafted by Dmitry Kozak, Putin’s envoy to the Southern Federal District.

The memorandum was initialed in the same year by Moldovan president Vladimir Voronin and Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov. But in the end Moldova refused to sign.

Russian, Ukrainian and OSCE observers suggested that Moldova and Transnistria reduce the number of their troops. Proposals on arms control and measures to boost security in Transnistria were submitted to Moldova’s reintegration minister Vasily Shova.