Zurab Todua: “Balkanization” of the South-East of Europe is very dangerous!”

Recently the president of Romania Traian Basescu spoke more than once about «association» of Romania and Moldova in various audiences. What stands behind these statements?

The questions of our portal were answered by the deputy of parliament of Moldova from the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM), the historian, the political scientist, the author of ten books on former Soviet Union history Zurab Todua.

- What is itpossible to explain the last statements of the president of Romania Traian Basescu for the future association of Romania and Moldova?

- Traian Basescu always differed by radical statements concerning the Republic of Moldova (RM). Any president of Romania didn’t afford such. It is enough to remember T. Basescu’s scandalous statement that on Ion Antonesku’s place (the Romanian dictator, A. Hitler’s ally in war against the USSR) on June 22, 1941 he would give the order to pass the river Prut too.

Recently, similar statements and comments became frequent. It is connected, firstly, with approach of parliamentary elections of RM, desire to consolidate unionist electorate and by that to help the ruling Coalition of the Pro-European Policy (CPEP) to keep the power. Secondly, it is connected with aspiration to keep the influence on representatives of this coalition (recently he handed over the state awards of Romania to several deputy supporters of absorption of Moldova by Romania). And, thirdly, to remind of a principled stand the Romanian diplomacy about need «to liquidate consequences of the pact of Ribbentrop-Molotov» which are understood as change of eastern frontiers of Romania.

— What is the reaction to these statements in Moldova? How they are treated in Romania?

- In Moldova there is about 7−10 percent of the population who support the union. This number doesn’t change more than 20 years. And it causes a tooth gnash in unionist. The idea of association, that is — elimination of the Moldavian statehood — in society is unpopular.

Moreover, similar statements only frighten off many potential supporters of a check point. As a rule, on elections the unionist are push on the second plan that they didn’t irritate the voters. In Romania this idea also has no mass support though in the theoretical plan it can talk at conferences and round tables.

There were few supporters to realize this idea in practice before recent time. However today, after tragic events in Ukraine which we observe with alarm, the moods can be changed.

— When the Romanian politicians started lifting this subject? Are the territorial claims of Romania to neighboring countries in practice?

- After disintegration of the Soviet Union on both sides of Prut the supporters of association had hopes that it will happen as quickly, as association of Germany. However then it became clear that association can’t happen, first of all, because the majority of the population of Moldova opposes it. In background there are set of the reasons.

I will call main of them:

1. Existence of the history, traditions, mentality and national identity at Moldavians;

2. Negative memory of stay of Bessarabia as a part of royal Romania in 1918 — 1940.

Now there are serious prerequisites for formation of the Moldavian civil nation; in Moldova (without Transnistria) 63 percent are made by Moldavians from 3,4 million of population; about 25 percent — national communities (minority), generally Russians, Ukrainians, Gagauz people, Jews. 2 percent of the population called themselves the Romanians during the last census (it was carried out 10 years ago).

In the Romanian political and scientific community this subject is known as «negative consequences of the pact of Ribbentrop-Molotov». From the point of view of the majority of those who mentions it in the political plan, but not just in historical, sooner or later this question is necessary to bring up with the purpose of «eliminations of consequences» of the pact. It is a question of return of Romania to borders of 1939.

After the entry of Romania into the European Union in 2007 this subject began to be mentioned constantly at various levels by T. Basescu and his supporters. It is necessary to pay tribute of the Romanian diplomacy: it has a successful example of territorial dispute with Ukraine. By means of the International Court of Justice at the beginning of the 2000th years Bucharest achieved the positive solution of a question on shelf accessory round Zmeiny Island in the Black Sea.

These days in connection with a condition of chaos and split in Ukraine in the Romanian mass media there are texts in which the authors ask a question: is it the time to take under protection the citizens of Romania, ethnic Romanians in the territory of Ukraine, namely in Northern Bukovina and the Southern Bessarabia.

— How the problem of Transylvania looks today? Can it be «hot spot» under certain circumstances?

- 1,5 million of Hungarians live in Transylvania (6,6 percent of the population of Romania). The autonomy of Hungarians of Transylvania was proclaimed on September 5, 2009. Official Bucharest doesn’t recognize it.

Transylvanian Hungarians appeal to EU structures from time to time with a request to affect the leadership of Romania, being guided thus by laws on local government which work in the EU countries. Hungary provides the Hungarian nationality to inhabitants of Transylvania.

Romania is revolted with it, but in this case Budapest only follows the example of Bucharest. The matter is that Romania from 90th years provides the Romanian nationality to inhabitants of Moldova. Procedure is difficult and tightened, nevertheless, during this time about 250−300 thousand inhabitants of Moldova became the citizens of Romania.

Besides Transylvania territorial friction at Romania periodically arise with Bulgaria because of part of Dobrogea.

— Can we speak today about the Romanian expansion in relation to Moldova and Ukraine? What consequences can be?

Unfortunately, there are all bases for such ascertaining. Many years Romania used various methods of creeping expansion for the purpose of washing out of the Moldavian statehood:

- financial support to various non-governmental organizations;

- financial help to «own» mass media;

- granting free places in the Romanian higher education institutions for students from Moldova (earlier it was about 1 thousand places per year, now this number is about 5 thousand places annually);

- support of the political organizations which are openly declaring the need of realization of association.

Now here are the top-level statements. There is a serious danger of that hotheads in Romania will want to use a difficult situation in Ukraine and to start pressure on «disputable» regions from the point of view of Bucharest.

Nevertheless, it has to be clear to all sane politicians that if the global remake of borders as a result «balkanizations» of the South-East of Europe will begin, this process will mention all countries of the region without exception, including Romania. And I strongly doubt that consequences for any state will be positive here.